'mff^SEa&^^SSSVW& 


Hcces 


BANCROFT 

LIBRARY 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


t  ' 


V  + 


The  Unit 


FAIRY   TALES 


FROM 


GOLD    LAE"DS. 


SECOND     SERIES. 


BY  MAY  WENTWOETH. 


High  as  the  clouds  are  the  mountains  bold 

That  tower  In  the  glorious  Land  of  Gold, 

And  canons  dusky  with  twilight  deep 

Where  a  thousand  mystic  shadows  peep. 

There  are  vineyards  graceful  with  trailing  vin^;     -' 

Rich  In  the  wealth  of  the  rosy  wine. 

There  are  orange  groves  and  lime  trees  green      ~% 

That  glint  in  the  sunlight's  glowing  sheen, 

There  are  deserts  yellow  with  priceless  sand, 

All  these  you  will  find  in  the  Golden  Land. 


NEW   EDITION,  WITH   ILLUSTRATION 
NEW    YORK: 

A.    ROMAX    &    CO.,    PUBLISHERS. 

SAX    FRANCISCO: 

417  &  419  MONTGOMERY   STREET. 
1870. 


6  4 

jLA.. 
I  £70 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congresfe,  in  the  year  1868,  by 
A.    EOMAN   &    CO., 

Jn  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Southern  District  of  New  York. 


•'£    (•/  FT 


DEDICATION. 


WITH  GOLDEIT  WISHES   TOE  THE  CHRISTMAS-TIME, 
I     DEDICATE     THIS     LITTLE     BOOK. 


MAT  WZNTWOBTH. 


YJUKB1J   T 


PREFACE. 


IN  the  pleasant  Christmas-time  I  greet  the 
children  everywhere. 

To  some  I  shall  not  be  a  stranger,  for  we  have 
met  before,  not  face  to  face,  but  in  the  pages  of 
the  last  year's  little  book.  In  the  sunny  days  of 
childhood,  a  year  is  so  long  a  time,  that  when  the 
summer  and  winter  have  passed  it  seems  like  an 
age  gone  by ;  yet  as  again  I  bring  my  Christmas 
offering,  I  hope  to  be  remembered  and  welcomed 
as  the  friend  who  loves  the  children  well. 

They  are  the  true  critics,  generous  and  fearless. 
For  their  warm  hearts  and  keen  appreciation,  I 
write  these  stories  of  the  Golden  Clime. 

May  the  joy  and  blessedness  of  the  holy  Christ- 
mas rest  upon  them,  and  follow  them  through  all 
the  sunshine  and  rain  of  the  coming  year. 

MAT  WENTWORTH. 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  1868. 


0» 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PAG* 

THE  LITTLE  LACE-MAKER 9 

GOLDEN  SNOW 27 

GEACIA  AND  CATRINA ! 53  6 

THE  DANCING  SUNBEAM 104 

TUB  YOUNG  GOLD-SEEKER 115 

THE  WISHING  CAP 129 

SNOWDROP  AND  ROSEBUD 209 

CRIMSON  TUFT 153  ^ 

LAZAEUS  AND  BUMMER 230 


.FAIRY   TALES. 


THE   LITTLE   LACE-MAKER. 

IT  was  the  happy  Christmas  Eve,  yet  it 
was  very  cold  and  dark.  Over  the  quaint 
old  town  of  Bruges  hung  the  heavy  snow- 
clouds,  and  the  air  was  filled  with  snow- 
flakes,  which  fell  so  thick  and  fast  that 
very  soon  the  ground  was  covered  with  a 
white  mantle,  quickly  hiding  the  footprints 
of  the  few  who  were  still  out  buying  the 
last  gifts  for  beautiful  Christmas  trees. 
Through  the  narrow  streets  rushed  the 
wind,  shrieking  round  the  corners  in  its 

shrill  whistle,  and  seeming  to  say : — 
1* 


10      v  FAIRY   TALES. 

"As  I  go, 

I  bring  the  snow,  ' 
On  this  holy  Christmas  Eve. 

Who  can  show 

Hearts  like  snow, 
On  this  holy  Christmas  Eve? 

Blow,  blow,  blow! 

Pure  and  fleecy  snow, 
On  this  holy  Christmas  Eve." 

It  was  really  strange  what  curious  things 
the  wind  whistled  that  night,  yet  through 
all  ran  the  refrain  of  the  holy  Christinas 
Eve. 

Near  the  great  belfry  of  Bruges  was  a 
stately  mansion,  where  the  fires  burned 
brightly  in  the  polished  grates  with  a 
warm,  rosy  glow,  making  upon  the  wall 
grotesque  shadows  of  a  little  boy  and  girl 
who  were  joyous  with  expectant  happi- 
ness. 

It  was  early,  and  the  lamps  were  not 
yet  lighted.  The  children  danced  up  and 
down  the  warm,  pleasant  room,  where  they 


THE  LITTLE  LACE-MAKER.  H 

were  to   remain  until  the  mother  called 
them. 

The  dear,  loving  mother  had  been  so 
busy  in  the  great  parlor,  doing  something 
full  of  mystery,  yet  the  children  were  quite 
sure  it  was  a  delightful  mystery,  that  would 
bring  them  a  great  store  of  happiness,  and 
they  were  luxuriating  in  their  own  pleasant 
imaginings.  The  door  was  still  locked,  but 
the  time  was  fast  approaching  for  the  grand 
opening. 

"  I  can't  wait !  I  can't  wait  much  longer," 
said  the  boy,  impatiently.  "  What  a  lazy 
old  thing  Santa  Glaus  is  !" 

"  For  shame,  brother,  to  speak  so  of  the 
good  Santa  Claus,  who  brings  us  such 
beautiful  gifts.  I  will  watch  for  him,  the 
kind  old  Santa  Claus,  to  come  from  the 
gift  land  for  us  in  all  the  wind  and  snow," 
and  the  little  girl  ran  to  the  window  and 
drew  aside  the  rich,  heavy  curtain. 


12  FAIRY  TALES. 

"  But  Santa  Glaus  always  comes  down 
the  chimney,  little  Miss  Wisdom,"  said  the 
boy,  joining  her.  "  How  it  snows !  I'm  so 
glad.  'Twill  be  such  fun  for  us  boys  to- 


morrow." 


"  'Tis  the  old  woman  up  in  the  clouds, 
picking  her  goose  for  Christmas  dinner," 
said  the  little  girl,  laughing  and  singing, — 

"  Old  woman,  up  in  the  clouds  so  high, 
Making  the  feathers  about  us  fly, 
Picking  your  geese  for  Christmas  pie, 
Give  me  a  piece  of  it  by  and  by !" 

Just  then  the  mother  was  heard  calling, 
and  the  children  ran  into  the  great  parlor, 
all  ablaze  with  light  and  beauty.  In  the 
center  of  all  rose  the  beautiful  Christmas 
tree,  luminous  with  shining  toys  and  many- 
hued  candles. 

Oh,  it  was  delightful !  To  the  little  ones 
nothing  could  compare  with  the  long- 


THE   LITTLE   LACE-MAKER.  13 

dreamed-of  Christmas  tree  full  of  beautiful 
presents,  just  what  they  had  been  wajit- 
ing,  and  hoped  that  wonderful  old  diviner, 
Santa  Claus,  would  think  of;  and,  of  the 
whole  year  to  them,  no  time  was  like  the 
glorious  Christmas  season. 

In  quite  another  part  of  the  town,  very 
poor  and  squalid,  lived  the  lace  weavers. 

In  quaint  old  buildings,  falling  to  ruins, 
they  were  huddled  together,  many  wretch- 
ed homes  under  one  roof,  yet  even  there 
they  were  trying  to  celebrate  the  birth  of 
the  blessed  Christ  child. 

In  the  dingy  rooms  burned  cheap  tallow 
candles,  and  the  little  ones,  with  their  poor 
wee  gifts,  were  as  happy  as  the  brother 
and  sister  with  the  beautiful  Christmas 
tree  in  the  stately  mansion. 

One  room  only,  a  very  small  one,  up  in 
an  attic  in  the  lace-weavers'  quarters,  was 
in  darkness.  By  the  window  stood  a  little, 


14:  FAIKY  TALES. 

sorrowful  girl,  very  pale-faced,  all  alone, 
watching  the  snow-flakes. 

It  was  very  cold,  and  her  clothes  were 
thin  and  ragged.  She  shivered,  for  she 
was  quite  chilled  through.  She  was  an 
orphan.  The  father  had  died,  oh!  long 
ago,  one  whole  year,  an  age  in  the  life  of  a 
child.  Only  the  week  before,  the  mother 
was  driven  away  to  her  last  home  in  the 
paupers'  grave-yard,  to  rest  in  the  plain 
deal  coffin,  till  beautiful  white  wings  should 
waft  her  up  to  Heaven  the  Golden. 

It  was  very  sad  to  see  the  little  pale- 
faced  child  looking  after  the  paupers'  cart, 
driven  so  roughly  over  the  frozen  ground, 
and  the  kind-hearted  neighbors  had  pitied 
her,  and,  though  they  were  poor  lace-makers 
like  the  mother,  they  had  given  her  food 
with  their  sympathy,  and  promised  to  help 
her  on  with  the  tratle. 

They  were  true-hearted,  honest  folk,  but 


THE  LITTLE  LACE-MAKER.  15 

in  this  joyous  Christmas  season 
they  had  all  forgotten  her,  and,  far  up  in 
the  dreary  attic-chamber  of  the  old  tene- 
ment-house, she  looked  out  into  the  night 
and  storm  alone. 

It  was*  so  dark  in  the  room  that  she 
could  not  bear  to  leave  the  window,  though 
the  wind  whistled  in  at  the  loose  casement, 
making  quite  a  clatter,  and  causing  her 
little  teeth  to  chatter  with  cold. 

She  was  very  hungry.  She  had  eaten 
the  last  crust  the  night  before,  and  every- 
body had  been  so  busy.  It  was  not  strange, 
she  thought,  that  they  had  forgotten  her. 

She  could  remember  the  last  Christmas 
they  were  all  together.  How  busy  the 
mother  was  making  the  Christmas  pie, 
and  how  the  father  brought  home  a  wood- 
en doll,  saying,  "  'T  is  for  my  good  little 
daughter,"  and  kissed  her.  Then,  taking 
her  on  his  shoulder,  he  danced  all  about 


16  FAIRY  TALES. 

the  room,  and  how  the  dear  mother 
laughed. 

She  was  so  happy  then,  and  now  so 
desolate  and  wretched.  Everybody  else 
was  happy;  she  heard  the  children  shout- 
ing, and  she  was  so  faint  and  hungry. 

Just  then  a  man,  in  an  oil-cloth  coat  and 
cap,  came  along,  and  lighted  the  street  lamp 
opposite  the  window.  That  made  it  more 
cheerful;  still,  the  child  was  so  cold  and 
hungry,  she  could  bear  it  no  longer. 

"  I  will  go  out,"  she  thought,  "  into  the 
light.  Perhaps  I  shall  dare  to  go  in  some- 
where. The  neighbors  have  been  so  kind 
to  me,  but  I'm  not  used  to  them  as  I  was 
to  the  dear  mother.  I  will  wish  them  a 
'  Merry  Christmas/  and  they  will  give  me 
something  to  eat.  Then,  perhaps,  I  can 
sleep,  and  go  away  in  my  dreams  to  the 
beautiful  land  where  it  is  warm  with  God's 
pleasant  sunshine." 


THE   LITTLE   LACE-MAKER.  JJ 

Taking  from  the  shelf  a  faded  shawl  and 
torn  bonnet,  which  had  been  the  mother's, 
she  fastened  them  on  as  well  as  she  could. 
But  they  were  too  large ;  it  was  all  of  no 
use,  they  would  slip  off  again. 

As  she  opened  the  door  of  hjgr  chamber, 
a  great  draught  of  wind  rushed  in  from 
the  street.  Some  one  was  coming  in  at  the 
common  staircase.  She  .heard  merry  voices 
and  footsteps  on  the  stairs.  She  drew 
back  into  the  darkness  of  her  own  room 
with  shrinking  timidity. 

Very  strange  it  was  to  her  the  cheery 
laughing,  yet  she  had  been  as  light- 
hearted  once,  but  it  seemed  a  great  while 
ago. 

When  the  sound  of  voices  died  away, 
she  stole  softly  down  the  stairs  to  the  door 
of  the  great  front  room,  which  had  always 
been  the  grand  place  to  her.  Of  all  the 
neighbors,  the  woman  in  this  best  room 


13  FAIRY   TALES. 

Lad  been  most  kind  to  her  and  the  poor 
mother  in  Tier  sickness. 

The  little  cold  fingers  gave  a  timid 
knock,  but,  within,  the  father  and  mother 
were  talking,  and  the  little  ones  laughing 

so  loud,  that   no   one   said  the   welcome 
7    •» 

"  Come  in,"  or  came  to  open  the  door. 

The  cold  winds  whistled  through  the 
uncovered  halls  of  the  tenement  house, 
and  the  child  stood  waiting  with  chatter- 
ing teeth,  and  feet  and  hands  so  benumbed 
that  she  thought  it  would  be  better  out  in 
the  street.  There  she  could  run  and  warm 
herself. 

It  was  snowing  fast,  and  the  feathery 
flakes  fell  all  over  the  worn  shawl,  cover- 
ing its  faded  colors  with  soft  white  down ; 
over  the  great  bonnet  that  would  fall  back 
upon  her  neck ;  and  over  the  rich,  golden- 
brown  curls,  that  were  left  bare  to  the 
storm. 


THE  LITTLE    LACE-MAKER.  19 

As  she  ran  on,  the  streets  grew  lighter, 
and  on  each  side  of  the  way  were  gay 
shops,  with  great  windows  filled  with  a 
thousand  beautiful  things.  How  much  bet- 
ter it  was  than  staying  in  the  dark  attic- 
room  alone ;  and  she  thought,  if  she  were 
not  so  cold  and  hungry,  she  could  have 
quite  enjoyed  it. 

There  was  a  great  jolly  man  walking  on 
before  her,  humming  a  song.  Presently  he 
stopped  to  look  in  at  a  shop  window,  and 
she  read  in  his  broad,  pleasant  face  that  his 
heart  was  kind  and  loving.  So,  without 
stopping  to  dread  it,  she  ran  up  to  him, 
saying,  "  Please,  sir,  I  wish  you  a  merry 
Christmas." 

"Ah,  ha!  little  one,"  he  said  kindly, 
"  you've  caught  a  Christmas  gift,  but  it  is 
too  stormy  a  night  for  little  things  like 
you  to  be  out."  Drawing  from  his  pocket 
one  of  many  small  packages,  he  said,  u  My 


XV 

mi  ^-.   «Mt  W9 


20  FAIRY   TALES. 

babies  will  never  miss  this.  Now  run 
home,  like  a  good  child;  no  doubt  the 
mother  is  calling  you  now." 

Then  he  hurried  on,  and  the  child,  with 
trembling  fingers,  untied  the  parcel.  How 
she  hoped  it  was  a  piece  of  bread;  but 
no !  It  was  a  pretty  toy  lamb,  with  a  fleece 
as  white  as  the  snow  that  was  covering 
her. 

She  was  so  much  disappointed  that  the 
tears  ran  down  her  face  very  fast,  and  in 
the  storm  and  cold  this  was  uncomfort- 
able. 

Just  then  the  beautiful  chimes  sounded 
from  the  great  belfry  of  Bruges.  This 
Christmas  Eve  they  were  played  by  a 
famous  musician,  who  sat  in  the  chamber 
below  the  belfry,  and  struck  upon  an  im- 
mense key-board  like  that  of  a  piano. 
These  keys  connect  with  hammers  that 
strike  the  bells,  so  that  in  all  the  world 


THE  LITTLE   LACE-MAKER.  21 

there  are  no  chimes  like  those  of  the  belfry 
of  Bruges. 

There  the  grand  musician  sat  and  played, 
throwing  the  whole  harmony  of  his  soul 
into  the  music,  and  all  the  town  of  Bruges 
stopped  to  listen,  and,  clasping  each  other's 
hands,  whispered  softly,  "  How  beautiful !" 
for  the  divine  music  thrilled  them. 

Above  all,  it  went  to  the  heart  of  the 
little  hungry  child,  out  alone  in  the  pitiless 
night  and  storm.  The  voices  of  the  match- 
less chimes  led  her,  and  she  hurried  on  to 
the  great  belfry,  clasping  the  pretty  white 
lamb  closely  in  her  little  chilled  hand. 

Somehow  she  did  not  feel  so  hungry 
now,  and  that  was  a  blessing.  There  was 
the  stately  mansion  all  ablaze  with  light 
She  could  look  in  through  the  rich  crim- 
son curtains  of  the  grand  parlor  window, 
and  see  the  beautiful  Christmas  tree,  and 
the  happy  children  dancing  around  it. 


22  FAIRY   TALES. 

It  was  very  near  the  belfry,  and  she  sat 
down  on  the  broad  steps,  and,  wrapping 
her  shawl  about  her,  listened  to  the  won- 
derful chimes. 

Still  the  snow  fell  heavily,  covering  her 
over  with  its  cold  white  mantle,  but  she 
did  not  move.  The  voice  of  the  chimes 
was  whispering  in  her  ear  such  beautiful 
things.  It  was  delightful,  and  all  the 
dread  shadows  that  filled  the  night  and 
storm  faded  away,  for  they  were  only  born 
of  earth. 

Yes !  it  told  her  of  a  great  Christmas 
tree  up  in  Heaven  the  Golden.  There  was 
a  pure  white  robe  and  shining  wings,  the 
priceless  gift  of  the  Father's  love.  These 
were  all  marked  with  her  name,  and  she 
was  very  happy. 

She  was  no  longer  hungry  nor  cold,  for 
the  snow  mantle  was  thick  now  over  her 
little  shrunken  form.  Only  the  tiny  pale 


THE   LITTLE   LACE-MAKER.  23 

face  looked  out  from  the  white  covering, 
and  that  was  leaning  against  the  pillar 
of  the  great  doorway.  The  old  bonnet 
had  fallen  off,  and  she  tried  no  longer 
to  confine  it.  When  the  storm  was  over 
and  the  moon  came  out,  it  shone  upon  her 
golden  brown  hair,  making  it  luminous 
with  beauty. 

How  smoothly  it  sailed  along,  that  cres- 
cent boat  of  the  sky ;  and  the  deep  blue 
eyes  watching  it  saw  such  marvelous  sights 
so  pleasant,  that  a  sweet  peace  gathered 
around  the  child.  The  poor  little  heart, 
that  in  the  early  hours  of  the  blessed 
Christmas  Eve  beat  with  the  quick  flutter 
of  fearful  timidity  and  loneliness,  was  at 
rest  in  the  holy  calm. 

Yes !  there  was  the  dear  mother  in  the 
Golden  Boat,  so  peaceful  and  free  from 
care.  How  tenderly  her  dear  eyes  shone, 
and  how  beautiful  she  was  in  the  radiant 


24  FAIRY   TALES. 

light  of  heaven !  She  beckoned  with  her 
hand,  and  the  little  child  reached  eagerly 
out  to  her,  crying,  "  It  is  the  mother !  Oh, 
matter,  dear,  I  am  coming !  Wait,  mother  ! 
I  am  com — " 

Up  to  the  Crescent  Boat  on  to  Heaven 
the  Golden,  and  to  the  throne  of  the  loving 
God,  had  passed  the  spirit  of  the  little 
child.  Just  then  a  bright  star  fell  down 
from  the  fleecy  clouds  and  rested  upon  the 
pure,  ice-cold  forehead,  leaning  so  heavily 
against  the  great  pillar  of  the  stately 
doorway. 

The  cadence  of  the  last  chime  was  dying 
away  upon  the  still  night  air.  It  was 
twelve  o'clock,  and  the  musician  went 
home.  The  great  belfry  was  left  silent,  and 
in  the  coming  of  the  holy  Christmas  dawn- 
ing all  the  peaceful  town  of  Bruges  slept. 

In  the  morning  the  servant  found  a  little 
child  dead  upon  the  door  steps  of  the 


THE   LITTLE   LACE-MAKER.  25 

grand  mansion,  with  the  frost  glittering 
like  a  crown  of  glory  in  her  golden  hair. 
It  was  said  she  was  a  poor  lace-maker's 
child,  who  had  died  in  great  poverty  and 
want.  The  crowd  gathered  about  the  door, 
saying,  "  It  is  sad,  oh  !  very  sad !"  but  they 
knew  nothing  of  what  the  music  of  the 
bells  had  been  to  her — nothing  of  the 

Golden  Boat. 

• 

At  last,  when  men  came  to  take  the 
poor  little  thing  away  to  the  paupers' 
burying-ground,  the  good  mother  of  the 
house  said,  "  No,  do  not  take  her  away, 
I  entreat  you." 

Then  she  folded  the  child  in  her  arms, 
kissing  her  pale  cheeks  and  golden  hair, 
saying,  "  I  will  see  to  it.  The  good  Lord 
led  her  to  my  door,  and,  though  it  is  late, 
I  will  do  all  there  is  left  me.  She  shall 
rest  in  the  pleasant  garden  under  the  lin- 
den-trees." 


26  FAIRY   TALES. 

Dear  little  one !  We  can  do  nothing 
more  now,  but  in  Heaven  the  Golden  the 
loving  God  will  receive  her,  a  most  pre- 
cious Christmas  offering! 


GOLDEN    SNOW. 

THE  snow-flakes  were  falling  all  over 
the  northern  Gold  Land,  for  it  was  mid- 
winter. Against  the  ice-bound  shore  the 
angry  breakers  of  the  great  Pacific  dashed, 
and  the  wind  whistled  like  a  trumpeter. 

A  warm  fire  burned  on  the  hearth  of 
the  fisherman's  hut,  and  with  a  red  face 
the  good-wife  bent  over  it,  preparing  the 
supper.  The  old  man  stood  by  the  win- 
dow looking  out,  and  thinking  his  poor 
thoughts  of  the  wind  and  the  tide,  which 
ended  always  with  the  same  refrain,  "  God 
help  us  fisher  folk ! "  Suddenly  he  gave 
a  quick  start,  exclaiming — "  Hark !  wife ; 
what  is  that?" 

The   old  woman   dropped  the   wooden 


28  FAIRY  TALES. 

spoon,  and  listened  to  the  clear  voices  that 
rose  above  the  storm : — 

"Golden  Snow!    Golden  Snow! 

To  and  fro ; 
Over  her  little  heart 

We  blow, 
Our  dear  little  sister, 

Golden  Snow. 

u  Open  your  door, 

That  the  fire-light's  glow- 
May  tinge  the  cheek 

Of  Golden  Snow- 
On!  dear  little  sister, 
Golden  Snow." 

Then  came  the  savage  old  trumpeter, 
and  blew  a  great  blast  close  by  the  door 
and  window  of  the  little  hut.  It  was 
really  quite  startling,  and  the  old  woman 
clung  to  her  husband's  arm;  but  above 
all  they  could  hear  the  shrill  clear  voices 
calling — • 

"  Open  the  door, 

For  the  wild  winds  blow 
Over  the  heart 

Of  Golden  Snow." 


GOLDEN   SNOW.  29 

"  I  can  not  .do  it,"  said  the  good-wife, 
trembling ;  but  the  old  man  walked  straight 
to  the  door.  Though  his  wife  entreated 
him,  saying,  "  It  is  the  Evil  One  who  calls  , 
without,  dear  husband,  do  not  open  it,"  he 
lifted  the  latch  fearlessly.  With  a  great 
bang  in  rushed  the  wind  and  blew  out  the 
candle. 

"  God  save  us ! "  cried  the  good-wife, 
crossing  herself,  almost  ready  to  swoon 
with  fright. 

A  bright  glow  from  the  fire  fell  upon  a 
willow  basket,  covered  with  a  fine  crimson 
cloth.  As  the  old  man  took  it  up,  a  little 
wailing  cry  rose,  which  touched  the  wom- 
an's heart  more  than  all  her  fears.  Taking 
it  from  her  husband,  she  exclaimed — 

"  God  pity  it !  It  is  a  little  innocent 
child!" 

The  old  man  pressed  hard  upon  the 
door,  and  drove  out  the  ugly  wind.  Then 


30  FAIRY  TALES. 

he  came  to  the  fire,  and  saw  his  wife  fold- 
ing in  her  kind  arms  the  most  beautiful 
little  child  that  even  a  poet  could  imagine. 
She  was  as  white  as  a  snow-flake,  only  the 
rose  tinge  upon  her  cheeks  and  her  lips 
were  like  ripe  cherries.  Her  hair  was  soft 
as  silk,  and  lay  in  pretty  waves  of  gold 
about  her  head,  like  the  shining  crown  of 
a  little  princess. 

The  good  people  were  greatly  bewil- 
dered ;  but  when  they  looked  into  the 
liquid  blue  eyes  of  the  little  one,  it  seemed 
like  a  deep  fountain  of  happiness  that  was 
opened  to  them,  and  they  were  delighted 
beyond  measure.  As  they  had  no  children, 
this  child  seemed  like  a  God's  gift,  and 
they  adopted  her  for  their  own. 

Her  little  robes  were  of  the  finest  mate- 
rial, daintily  embroidered,  but  among  them 
all  there  was  nothing  to  tell  her  name  or 
parentage,  only  a  coral  necklace  with  a 


-  GOLDEN   SNOW.  31 

golden  clasp,  engraved  with  the  letters 
"  G.  S." 

"  \Yas  ever  any  thing  so  strange  ? "  said 
the  good-wife.  "  But  she  is  our  child  now, 
and  we  will  call  her  Golden  Snow,  for  her 
hair  is  shining  like  gold,  and  her  complex- 
ion fair  as  the  driven  snow." 

The  poor  fisher-folk  had  now  something 
to  love,  and  were  never,  so  happy  in  their 
lives. 

The  long  winter  gave  place  to  the  pleas- 
ant summer  time,  and  the  little  child  grew 
lovelier  day  by  day,  till  in  all  the  northern 
gold  land  there  was  not  a  maiden  who 
could  compare  with  her. 

Good  fortune  had  followed  the  fisher- 
man. Ever  since  that  stormy  night  he 
had  never  drawn  in  his  net  empty,  and 
there  had  been  always  plenty  in  the  larder. 
The  old  woman  often  said,  "  It  all  comes 
of  Golden  Snow — she  is  our  luck  child." 


32  FAIRY  TALES.    * 

As  the  years  went  by,  she  had  taught 
the  maiden  all  she  knew  herself,  which  was 
little  enough,  to  be  sure;  but  the  ehild 
had  other  teachers.  From  the  birds  she 
received  the  gift  of  song,  and  learned  the 
wonderful  stories  of  the  far  southern  lands. 

The  leaves  of  summer,  and  the  ever- 
greens of  winter,  whispered  a  thousand 
pleasant  things  in  her  ear,  but  it  was  the 
snow-flakes  that  she  loved  best  of  all.  The 
old  fisher-folk  often  heard  them  calling  her 
as  they  flew  about  in  the  winter  storm : — 

"Golden  Snow!    Golden  Snowl 

You  are  one  of  us. 
When  the  wild  winds  blow, 

Come  out  to  us 
From  the  firelight's  glow. 

You  are  our  sister, 
Golden  Snow." 

Then,  before  the  good-wife  could  stop 
her,  the  little  maiden  would  fly  out  into 
the  storm,  full  of  joy,  dancing  about  as 
lightly  as  the  snow-flakes  themselves. 


GOLDEX  SNOW.  33 

At  first  the  old  fisherman  would  run 
after  her,  and  bring  her  in  quickly,  for 
fear  that  the  chill  of  the  storm  would  kill 
her ;  but  when  he  saw  that  this  only  sad- 
dened her,  and  how  rosy,  laughing,  and 
healthful  she  always  was  with  the  snow- 
flakes,  he  said  to  the  good-wife — 

"  They  do  not  harm  her — let  the  child 
have  her  way." 

After  this  they  would  stand  by  the  win- 
dow watching  her;  and  very  often  they 
heard  her  saying — 

"  My  pretty  sisters,  how  merry  we  are — 
how  much  I  love  you !  The  winter,  oh ! 
the  winter,  is  the  joy  time,  and  my  sisters 
the  fairies  of  the  winter." 

Then  the  snow-flakes  would  answer: — 

"  Golden  Snow, 
Many  maids  are  fair, 

We  know, 
But  none  like  the  princess 

Golden  Snow." 
2* 


3±  FAIRY   TALES. 

So  it  "happened  that  the  old  fisher-folk 
found  out  that  Golden  Snow  was  a  prin- 
cess, and  they  no  longer  wondered  at  the 
innate  grace  of  the  lovely  child.  Every 
thing  she  said,  and  all  her  ways,  was  so 
charming  that  it  was  impossible  to  resist 
her;  but  as  she  was  so  gentle  and  good, 
this  was  all  well.  Every  night,  before  she 
went  to  sleep,  she  said  reverently — "Oar 
Father,  who  art  in  heaven."  The  loving 
God  heard  her,  and  kept  her  heart  pure, 
as  she  passed  on  through  the  portals  of 
childhood  into  timid,  dreamy  maidenhood. 

One  day,  in  the  winter  time,  wheii  Golden 
Snow  was  about  fifteen  years  old,  a  herald 
rode  by  the  fisherman's  cottage,  crying — 
"  The  prince !  the  prince  will  marry  the 
most  beautiful  maiden  in  all  the  Gold 
Land.  Hear  !  hear  !  the  prince  will  marry 
the  most  beautiful  maiden  in  all  the  Gold 
Land !" 


GOLPEX  SXOW.  35 

Then  the  old  fisherman  went  out  and 
asked  the  messenger  what  it  meant. 

"  It  means  this/'  replied  the  man,  "  that 
though  the  prince  and  all  his  ancestors 
were  born  in  Russia,  he  has  determined  to 
marry  only  in  the  Gold  Land,  and  the  most 
beautiful  maiden.  For  you  must  know, 
that  though  he  is  so  high  born  in  the  old 
world,  the  estates  are  getting  poor,  but 
here  he  has  won  every  thing.  He  -has 
opened  a  mine  so  rich  that  he  will  never 
be  able  to  count  his  money.  He  wishes 
his  children  to  be  real  lords  of  the  Gold 
Land — to  be  miner  princes.  So  here  lie 
will  marry  even  the  poorest  maiden,  but 
she  must  be  the  most  beautiful." 

Then  he  told  how  all  the  lovely  young 
girls  in  the  country  were  invited  to  a  great 
feast  at  the  castle,  and  that  the  prince 
would  choose  a  wife  from  among  them. 

After  this,  the  herald  went  crying  before 


36  FAIRY  TALES. 

every  house,  no  matter  how  humble,  for 
this  was  the  command  of  the  prince. 

The  old  fisherman  went  into  the  cottage, 
and  told  all  to  the  good-wife. 

"  Golden  Snow  is  the  most  beautiful 
maiden,"  she  answered. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  old  man,  "  Golden  Snow 

• 

is  the  most  beautiful,  but  he  who  wins 
must  seek  her.  She  should  not  go  to  the 
castle  for  a  husband,  even  though  he  were 
a  king." 

This  grieved  the  mother,  for  all  her  life 
she  had  eaten  the  bread  of  toil,  and  she 
longed  to  see  the  dainty  fingers  of  her 
adopted  child  covered  with  rings,  and  to 
have  her  wear  costly  trailing  robes,  such 
as  the  wives  and  daughters  of  the  great 
miner  princes  wore. 

In  the  corner  sat  Golden  Snow,  braid- 
ing her  silken  hair,  which  was  so  long  it 
swept  the  ground.  She  bound  the  broad 


GOLDEN   SNOW.  37 

plaits  about  her  head,  and  formed  a  shiny 
crown. 

"  Was  there  ever  any  thing  like  it  ?"  said 
the  old  woman,  sighing,  and  passing  her 
brown  hand  fondly  over  the  beautiful 
tresses. 

"The  father  is  right,"  replied  Golden 
Snow.  "  My  sisters  will  see  to  it.  Have 

never   a   care,  mother;"   and   the   maiden 

• 

began  singing  the  nightingale's  song,  till 
the  rafters  of  the  old  hut  rang  writh  the 
silvery  melody. 

"  The  chit  of  a  child  has  never  a  care," 
thought  the  old  woman,  "  but  it  is  different 
with  me,  who  know  what  life  is." 

All  through  the  north  land  there  was 
great  excitement.  Everywhere  the  young 
girls  wrought  upon  gay  dresses,  and  the 
fathers  and  mothers  consulted  together, 
that  nothing  might  be  wanting  in  the  ball 
costumes  of  their  daughters,  for  each  one 


38  FAIRY  TALES. 

thought — "  Our  child  is  the  most  beautiful 
maiden." 

The  morning  dawned  without  a  ray  of 
sunshine.  Only  the  heavy  snow-clouds 
covered  the  sky. 

"  My  sisters  are  getting  ready  for  the 
ball  to-night,"  laughed  Golden  Snow. 
"  Very  soon  the  messengers  will  be  flying 
out  after  the  fleecy  fringes  and  ribbons,  for 
every  one  must  be  dressed  in  the  real  court 
costume." 

"  Silly  child,  silly  child,"  answered  the 
old  woman ;  yet  silently  she  thought — "  If 
my  daughter  could  go  to  the  ball,  the  prince 
would  surely  fall  in  love  with  her,  for  in 
all  the  north  land  she  is  the  only  true 
princess." 

"  See,  they  are  coming,  mother !"  ex- 
claimed Golden  Snow,  clapping  her  hands 
with  delight. 

The  old  woman  looked  out  of  the  win- 


GOLDEN  SNOW.  39 

dow,  and  saw  everywhere  the  snow-flakes 
flying  about,  like  little  madcaps,  over  hill 
and  valley. 

It  seemed  a  long  day  to  her ;  there  was 
a  chill  in  the  air,  and  she  was  not  happy. 
Satos,  the  old  fisherman,  came  in,  saying, 
in  his  good-natured  voice,  "  It  will  be 
stormy  to-night,  wife." 

"  Ah,  well,"  replied  she,  "  what  wiU  that 
matter  to  us,  who  stay* at  home?" 

Just  then  a  knock  came  at  the  door; 
and  when  the  old  man  opened  it,  he  saw  a 
stately  lady,  who  was  so  covered  with 
snow  that  no  part  of  her  dress  could  be 
seen.  It  was  like  a  cloak  about  her.  Upon 
her  head  she  wore  a  band  of  shining  bril- 
liants, that  so  dazzled  the  old  man  that  he 
could  not  speak  a  word. 

The  lady  stepped  into  the  cottage,  and 
when  she  saw  Golden  Snow,  she  embraced 
her  fun-lly,  saying,  "  My  dear  child,  I  havu 


40  FAIRY   TALES. 

not  forgotten  that  it  is  your  birthday,  and 
that  you  are  now  fifteen  years  old."  She 
took  a  little  box  from  her  pocket,  and 
placed  it  upon  the  floor.  In  a  few  moments 
it  had  increased  to  so  great  a  size  that  it 
was  large  enough  to  hold  the  entire  ward- 
robe of  a  lady. 

Golden  Snow  kissed  her  hand,  and 
thanked  her  again  and  again. 

"  I  must  go  now,"  said  the  lady;  "  I  can 
not  endure  the  heat;  but  never  fear,  my 
child,  for  your  sisters  shall  attend  to  every 
thing.  Now,  good-bye;"  and  again  she 
embraced  the  young  maiden  tenderly,  and 
in  a  moment  was  gone. 

The  fisherman  and  his  wife  had  been 
standing  gazing  upon  this  scene  in  silent 
amazement ;  but  when  the  lady  had  disap- 
peared, and  they  could  not  see  how,  the 
old  woman  recovered  her  voice — 

"  Father,"  she  exclaimed,  "  the  lady !  she 


GOLDEN  SXOW.  41 

did  not  go  out  at  the  door,  nor  the  win- 
dow; how  did  she  go?" 

"  Don't  ask  me,  wife — I  don't  know  any 
thing,"  replied  the  old  man  in  a  bewildered 
way.  "  I  believe — I  rather  think  I  am  in 
the  fog."  And  after  this  he  sank  into  a 
chair,  and  did  not  speak  again  for  an  hour. 
He  was  trying  in  vain  to  get  out  of  the 
fog.  A  clear,  ringing  laugh  startled  the 
old  man ;  it  was  Golden  Snow,  whose  eyes 
were  glistening  with  mirth. 

"  Who  was  she,  child  ?"  asked  the  good- 
wife. 

"  It  was  the  Snow  Queen,  mother,"  re- 
plied  the  young  girl,  as  soon  as  she  could 
speak  for  laughing.  "  But  now  let  us  look 
at  my  birthday  gift." 

The  good  woman's  curiosity  overcame 
her  wonder ;  so,  taking  the  silver  key,  she 
unlocked  the  great  box,  and  displayed 
such  a  quantity  of  beautiful  things,  that 


42  FAIRY  TALES. 

her  admiration  was  as  great  as  her  amaze- 
ment. - 

There  were  shining  robes  of  silver  and 
gold  cloth,  and  rich  cloaks  of  fur,  orna- 
mented with  glittering  gems.-  Golden  Snow 
was  almost  wild  with  delight,  and  her 
beaming  eyes  glistened  with  the  unexpect- 
ed pleasure.  And  the  good- wife,  though 
the  mysticism  troubled  her  greatly,  could 
not  but  rejoice  at  the  sight  of  all  these 
treasures. 

She  took  up  a  robe  of  silver  cloth,  richly 
embroidered  with  gold,  saying,  "  Oh !  my 
child,  if  you  could  only  wear  this  to  the 
ball,  I  should  live  to  see  you  the  bride  of  a 
real  prince,  and  the  richest  man  in  all  the 
Russian  possessions,  except  the  great  czar 
himself." 

The"  old  woman  sighed  heavily,  adding, 
"  It  would  not  be  right  to  say  aught  against 
the  good-man,  for  there  is  nobody  like 


GOLDEN  SXOW.  4.3 

him ;  but  I  do  believe  he  would  have  his 
way  if  old  Nickey  Bend  stood  at  the  door 
with  his  cloven  hoof,  so  it  is  no  use  talking 
— we  must  give  up  the  ball,  my  child." 

"And  I  am  content,"  said  Golden  Snow, 
fastening  a  string  of  pearls  into  the  shining 
crown  that  she  had  formed  of  her  own 
abundant  tresses.  Then  she  threw  about 
her  a  rich  fur  mantle,  made  of  a  thousand 
different  skins  of  the  'finest  quality. 

"  I  must  go  now,  and  dance  for  a  while 
with  my  sisters.  Remember,  mother,"  she 
added,  as  the  old  woman  shook  her  head, 
u  it  is  my  birthnight — you  would  not  deny 


me." 


The  old  woman  listened,  and  heard  the 


clear  voices  calling  :- 


'  'Tis  thy  birthnight,  sister  fair, 
Join  us  fairies  of  the  air. 
Where  the  night-winds  round  us  blow 
"We  are  waiting,  Golden  Snow." 


44:  FAIRY  TALES. 

"  Kiss  me,  mother,  for  1  must  go,"  said 
the  maiden,  eagerly.  And  with  the  old 
woman's  kiss  warm  upon  her  cheek,  she 
ran  out  and  danced  with  the  pretty  snow- 
flakes  till  her  face  glowed  and  her  eyes 
sparkled  like  the  rich  carbuncle  that  clasp- 
ed her  mantle. 

"  It  is  getting  late ;  come  in,  child !  come 
in ! "  called  the  old  woman,  who  grew 
weary  waiting. 

The  maiden  kissed  her  white  hands  to 
the  fleecy  snow-flakes,  singing  like  a  bird — 

"  Good  night ! 
Snow-flakes  white. 
Golden  Snow- 
Now  must  go. 
Sisters  white, 
Good  night!     Good  night!" 

There  was  a  little  sound,  as  though  soft 
hands  met  and  young  lips  kissed  each 
other,  and  Golden  Snow  ran  into  the 
house,  rosy,  joyous,  and  ready  to  obey  th<> 


GOLDEN  SNOW.  45 

good  mother,  even  when  she  said,  "  Go  to 
bed,  my  dear  child,"  though  the  bright 
eyes  were  still  wide  awake. 

"  You  will  tell  me  a  story,  mother,"  said 
the  young  girl,  in  a  coaxing  tone. 

So  the  old  woman  sat  down  by  the  bed- 
side, and  told  her  a  wonderful  story  of  the 
olden  time,  how  a  fair  princess  was  changed 
into  a  blue  bird  by  the  incantations  of  a 
wicked  old  witch,  who  had  red  eyes,  and 
had  studied  the  black  art.  And  how,  after 
a  long  time,  the  cruel  enchantment  was 
broken  by  a  brave  young  prince,  who  had 
marvelous  adventures.  "  So  it  all  ended 
happily,"  said  the  old  mother,  bending  over 
Golden  Snow  to  kiss  her.  Then  she  saw 
that  the  young  maiden  slept,  and  she  stood 
gazing  upon  her  fresh  young  face,  and 
thinking  curious  thoughts,  which  somehow 
were  enwoven  with  the  web  of  the  story 
she  had  been  telling,  but  all  ended  in 


46  FAIRY  TALES. 

this : — "  Golden  Snow  is  the  most  beauti- 
ful maiden." 


At  the  castle  the  musicians  were  play- 
ing, and  the  grand  saloon  was  like  an 
enchanted  hall,  with  fragrant  air  and  gor- 
geous light.  The  delicious  music  stole  into 
the  heart,  and  throbbed  in  the  impassioned 
pulses  of  the  guests,  the  noble  gentlemen 
and  fair  ladies. 

The  dark-eyed  brunette  rivaled  the  deli- 
cate blonde,  and  all  were  lovely  in  their 
dainty  robes,  with  the  soft  mellow  light 
floating  around  them 

Amid  the  festive  throng,  with  courtly 
hospitality,  walked  the  young  prince.  The 
winds  and  sun  had  bronzed  his  handsome 
face,  and  the  damp  exhalations  of  the  mine 
had  moistened  the  rich  curls  of  his  dark 
hair.  Yet  nothing  in  all  the  rough  miner's 


GOLDEN  SXOW.  47 

life  had  harmed  him  in  any  way.  He  was 
a  prince  born,  and  a  real  prince  at  heart. 
There  was  not  a  father  in  the  north  land 
who  would  not  have  taken  him  by  the 
hand,  nor  a  mother  who  would  not  have 
been  proud  of  him.  Even  the  young  maid- 
ens whispered  together,  "He  is  a  man; 
one  could  look  up  to  him,  and  that  is  the 
best  of  all." 

The  prince  was  attentive  to  all  his  fair 
guests,  but  he  danced  more  with  the  con- 
sul's daughter.  She  was  a  proud  young 
beauty,  so  ambitious,  that  she  had  treated 
with  scorn  many  an  honest  heart  in  the 
Gold  Land. 

"  My  great-great-grandfather  was  younger 
brother  to  an  earl,  and  I  am  beautiful 
enough  to  be  the  bride  of  a  noble- 
man,'' she  would  say,  as  she  sat  by  her 
mirror.  When  the  herald  came  with 
.the  invitation  to  the  ball,  she  determined 


48  FAIRY   TALES. 

in  her  mind  to  marry  the  rich  Russian 
prince. 

"  Of  course,"  she  thought,  "  I  am  the 
most  beautiful,  so  that  is  settled.  I  will 
go  back  to  the  old  world,  where  I  will 
astonish  even  the  queen  with  the  richness 
of  my  dress  and  the  luster  of  my  jewels, 
and  every  one  will  pay  court  to  the  prin- 
cess of  the  Gold  Land." 

So  she  went  to  the  ball  with  glistening 
eyes  and  a  proud  flush  upon  her  cheek, 
and  all  the  guests  whispered,  "  The  con- 
sul's daughter  is  the  most  beautiful  maid- 
en." It  found  an  echo  in  the  heart  of  the 
prince,  so  that  the  matter  seemed  really 
decided. 

Just  then  the  music  ceased,  for  the  mu- 
sicians were  weary.  The  dancers  were 
quite  out  of  breath,  and  the  windows  of 
the  grand  saloon  were  opened  to  admit 
the  refreshing  air. 


GOLDEN  SXOW.  4.9 

Without,  the  snow-flakes  were  holding 
their  revel  in  honor  of  the  princess  Golden 
Snow.  Up  to  the  great  carved  windows 
they  flew,  and  their  clear  voices  sounded 
through  the  ball-room  so  distinctly,  that 
the  prince  and  all  his  guests  heard  them : 

"  The  consul's  daughter  is  fair,  we  know, 
But  not  like  the  beautiful  Golden  Snow. 
There  are  lovely  maids  al  the  castle  ball, 
But  Golden  Snow  is  fairer  than  all." 

The  flush  of  pride  in  the  cheek  of  the 
consul's  daughter  gave  place  to  the  deeper 
red  of  anger.  Her  eyes  shot  flames  of  fire, 
and  her  brow  darkened  with  heavy  clouds. 
"What  does  this  insult  mean?"  she  said 
sharply  to  the  prince. 

The  young  man  gave  a  start,  as  though 
he  were  awaking  from  a  dream.  "  It  is 
strange,"  he  answered,  "  but  it  shall  be 
looked  to,  lady.  What  it  means  I  can  not 
tell." 

3 


5€  FAIRY   TALES. 

He  called  his  servants,  telling  them  to 
bring  in  the  people  who  were  crying  with- 
out. When  the  men  returned,  they  were 
trembling,  and  seemed  quite  afraid. 

"  There  are  a  hundred  voices,  but  no 
person  is  without,  only  the  snow-flakes 
flying  about  like  living  things." 

Then  the  prince  went  out  himself,  and  a 
great  search  was  made  all  over  the  grounds 
of  the  castle,  but  not  a  human  being  could 
be  found.  Still,  everywhere  the  voices 
could  be  heard,  and  the  snow-flakes  thick- 
ened, till  at  Ijast  the  search  was  given  up. 

"  It  is  the  work  of  magic  and  evil,"  said 
the  consul  and  all  his  friends;  but  the 
prince  offered  a  great  reward  to  any  one 
who  would  find  the  beautiful  Golden  Snow, 
and  all  the  guests  were  invited  to  return 
in  one  week's  time. 

All  the  week  the  young  prince  could 
think  of  nothing  but  the  mysterious  voices 


GOLDEN  SNOW.  51 

that    pursued    him,   and    everywhere   his 
messengers  were  seeking  for  the  beautiful 

o  o 

Golden  Snow. 

The  consul's  daughter  was  nearly  wild 
with  rage  and  disappointment.  One  even- 
ing, in  the  dusky  twilight,  she  went  down 
into  the  shadows  of  a  dark  canon,  and  con- 
sulted a  wicked  old  witch,  who  lived  in  a 
dismal  cavern. 

"  Am  I  not  the°  fairest  of  all  the 
maidens  in  the  new  world  I"  she  asked, 
"  but  what  means  this  cry  of  *  Golden 
Snow?'" 

"You  are  very  fair,"  answered  the  old 
witch,  "  but  I  must  read  the  stars."  So 
she  went  down  into  the  lowest  depths  of 
the  canon,  and  in  the  bottom  of  a  deep 
well  she  read  the  stars: — 

"  There  were  maidens  fair  at  the  prince's  ball, 
But  Golden  Snow  is  fairer  than  all." 

''What  does  it  mean?"  asked  the  con- 


52  FAIRY  TALES. 

sul's  daughter,  pale  and  trembling  with 
emotion. 

"  I  will  tell  you !  Golden  Snow  is  the 
Elixir  of  Beauty,  and  if  you  can  obtain  it, 
and  wash  in  it,  you  will  become  the  most 
enchanting  maiden  in  the  world." 

"  Where  shall  I  find  it  ?  I  will  give  you 
any  thing — any  thing  for  this  Elixir  of 
Beauty." 

Then  the  witch  told  her,  if  she  would 
promise  to  be  her  slave  one  day  in  every 
month,  she  would  help  her  to  procure  the 
great  treasure. 

"  I  can  buy  the  old  woman  off  when  I 
become  the  bride  of  the  rich  prince," 
thought  the  young  girl.  So  she  promised, 
and  the  witch  brought  out  a  wrinkled 
yellow  parchment,  and  wrote  the  contract. 
Piercing  the  maiden's  arm,  she  dipped  the 
pen  in  the  blood,  and  the  consul's  daughter 
signed  it  with  a  trembling  hand. 


GOLDEN  SNOW.  53 

"  That  is  good,"  said  the  old  witch,  her 
red  eyes  glaring  at  the  maiden.  "Now 
you  must  go  to  the  summit  of  the  black 
mountain,  just  over  the  prince's  mine,  and 
bring  me  a  quart  of  the  snow  that  has 
drifted,  round  the  roots  of  the  blasted  pine. 
All  your  gold  and  jewelry  you  must  bring, 
and,  at  twelve  o'clock  'to-morrow  night, 
come  to  the  cavern,  and  I  will  give  you 
the  Elixir  of  Beauty,  the  wonderful  golden 


snow." 


The  consul's  daughter  took  off  all  her 
jewelry,  necklace,  bracelets,  and  all  the 
gold  she  had  she  gave  to  the  old  witch. 
Then  she  toiled  up  the  steep  mountain, 
and  at  last,  weary  and  worn,  returned  with 
the  snow  from  the  roots  of  the  blasted 
pine. 

When  the  young  girl  had  left  the  cavern, 
the  woman  bent  over  the  blazing  fire,  with 
alembic  and  crucible.  "  Who  can  tell  the 


54:  FAIRY  TALES. 

wonderful  mystery,"  she  muttered  to  her- 
self, as  the  liquid  boiled  up  yellow  as  gold. 
"  I  myself  will  wash  in  it,  and  become 
young  and  fair  again." 

The  night  came  on  in  darkness,  and  at 
eleven  o'clock  the  old  witch  carried  the 
liquid  out  in  the  chill  air,  and  with  lier 
red  eyes,  that  could  see  best  in  the  dark- 
ness, watched  it  as  it  changed  in  form,  till, 
just  as  the  bell  in  the  church  tower  rung 
out  twelve,  she  saw  before  her  the  Elixir 
of  Beauty,  the  magic  golden  snow. 

Just  at  that  moment  she  heard  'the  voice 
of  the  consul's  daughter  calling,  "  It  is  so 
dark,  I  cannot  see;  give  me  your  hand, 
and  lead  me  to  the  Elixir  of  Beauty.  I 
have  dared  so  much  for  it !  I  am  almost 
dead  with  fright." 

"In  a  moment,"  answered  the  old  woman, 
and  she  slipped  the  golden  snow  into  a  crev- 
ice in  the  rock,  leaving  only  a  little  for  the 


GOLDEN   SNOW.  55 

maiden.  Reaching  out  her  hand,  she  led 
the  trembling  girl  into  the  cavern,  and, 
taking  an  ivory  box,  filled  it  with  pure 
white  snow.  Sprinkling  over  it  the  rem- 
nant of  the  Elixir  of  Beauty,  she  gave  it 
to  the  maiden,  saying,  "  Wash  in  it,  and 
you  will  become  as  lovely  as  the  dawn." 

When  the  young  girl  opened  the  box, 
it  looked  to  her  yellpw  and  shiny,  for  the 
old  witch  had  cast  a  glamour  over  it,  so 
she  went  away  quite  satisfied. 

She  concealed  her  treasure  in  her  private 
closet,  and  every  night,  after  all  in  the 
house  had  retired,  she  washed  her  face, 
and,  because  there  was  the  remnant  of  the 
Elixir  of  Beauty  in  it,  she  became  fairer 
every  day.  All  who  saw  her  wondered, 
and  said,  "  Surely  the  consul's  daughter  is 
the  most  beautiful  maiden !" 

Through  the  whole  week  the  herald  of 
the  prince  rode  over  the  Gold  Land,  every- 


56  FAIRY  TALES. 

where  seeking  for  Golden  Snow.  Once  he 
passed  the  fisherman's  cottage,  but  that 
morning  the  fisher  folk  and  their  adopted 
child  had  gone  .down  to  the  beach.  As 
chance  would  have  it,  they  missed  the 
messenger. 

Again  the  castle  was  illuminated,  and 
the  guests  were  assembled. 

There  were  beautiful  maidens,  but  the 
consul's  daughter  shone  like  the  morning. 
Again  the  heart  of  the  prince  re-echoed  the 
wondering  admiration  of  the  guests,  and 
his  deep  dark  eyes  flashed  with  a  strange 
magnetic  fire. 

As  the  evening  advanced,  it  grew  warm, 
with  the  great  lights  flashing  everywhere, 
and  the  delicious  notes  of  the  music  vibra- 
ting and  thrilling  in  every  form. 

"  Do  not  open  the  windows,"  entreated 
the  consul's  daughter,  "  for  the  snow-flakes 
are  drifting  with  the  wind,  and  the  night 


GOLDEN  SXO\V.  57 

air  is  chill."  A  shudder  passed  over  her, 
so  they  opened  only  the  doors  of  the  grand 
saloon.  But  one  of  the  warm  and  weary 
dancers  went  out  secretly,  and  opened  the 
carved  oval  window  of  the  great  hall. 
Then,  louder  than  ever,  the  clear  voices 
floated  into  the  hall,  and  in  all  the  winding 
corridors  found  a  hundred  echoes,  till  the 
whole  castle  reverberated  with  them : — 

"  The  consul's  daughter  is  fair,  we  know, 
But  not  like  the  princess  Golden  Snow. 
There  are  lovely  maids  at  the  castle  ball, 
But  Golden  Snow  is  fairer  than  all." 

The  consul's  daughter  was  again  frantic 
with  rage ;  her  eyes  glared  with  fury,  and 
her  face  grew  frightful  with  the  heat  of 
passion.  The  dream  had  passed  forever 
from  the  heart  of  the  prince,  and  he"  won- 
dered that,  only  a  moment  before,  he  had 
thought  the  face,  so  contorted  with  anger, 

beautiful  as  a  painter's  bright  ideal. 
3* 


58  FAIRY  TALES. 

Everywhere  they  searched,  but  could 
find  no  one,  so,  while  the  mystery  deep- 
ened, the  ball  ended. 

In  the  morning,  the  prince  mounted  a 
fine  black  horse,  and  started  off  as  for  a 
long  journey.  For  months  he  wandered 
over  the  northern  Gold  Land,  seeking 
everywhere  the  princess  Golden  Snow. 

At  last,  when  he  had  given  up  all  hope, 
and  was  returning  disappointed  to  the 
castle,  he  chanced  to  ride  by  the  fisher- 
man's cottage.  The  old  fisher  folk  sat  in 
the  corner  mending  a  net,  and  Golden 
Snow,  in  her  rich,  marvelous  voice,  was 
singing  to  them  one  of  the  songs  of  the 
sea.  The  prince  stopped  his  horse  and 
listened,  drinking  in  every  note  of  the 
delicious  melody.  When  it  was  ended,  he 
dismounted,  and,  leading  his  horse  by  the 
bridle,  knocked  at  the  door,  and  the  good- 
wife  opened  it. 


GOLDEN  SNOW.  59 

"  Tell  me,  good  mother,  who  it  was 
singing,  for,  in  all  my  life,  never  a  voice 
came  so  into  my  heart." 

"  It  was  the  princess  Golden  Snow,"  an- 
swered the  old  woman,  proudly. 

The  prince  entered,  and  saw  Golden 
Snow  in  all  her  matchless  grace  and  beau- 
ty. Around  her  head  was  her  crown  of 
shining  hair,  decked  wkh  brilliants,  and  a 
mantle  of  the  richest  fur  covered  her.  She 
had  only  just  returned  from  the  sea-shore, 
with  the  rich  flush  of  exercise  upon  her 
cheek,  and  her  eyes  were  beaming  with 
the  rare  beauty  of  her  gentle  spirit. 

The  fisherman  rose  to  meet  the  young 
prince,  who  told  him,  in  his  handsome, 
manly  way,  how  all  over  the  north  land 
he  had  been  seeking  for  the  princess 
Golden  Snow ;  and  how  at  last,  when 
hope  was  almost  dying,  he  had  found  the 
treasure. 


60  FAIRY  TALES. 

The  old  man  listened  gravely ;  then  he 
placed  the  white  hand  of  the  maiden  in 
the  young  man's  strong,  true  palm,  saying, 
"  Not  because  you  are  a  Russian  prince, 
but  because  you  are  one  of  God's  noble- 
men, I  give  you  my  dear  child.  Take  her, 
for  in  her  loving  heart  she  is  the  most 
beautiful  maiden." 

Thus  the  young  people  were  betrothed 
in  the  cottage  of  the  good  fisher  folk,  and, 
when  the  news  spread  over  the  country, 
there  was  great  rejoicing.  They  were  mar- 
ried at  the  old  church,  where  the  stones 
are  covered  with  lichens,  and  many  a  poor 
man's  heart  was  made  glad  by  the  gener- 
osity of  the  prince  that  day. 

The  consul's  daughter  was  too  angry  to 
join  in  the  festivities,  but  all  the  former 
guests  of  the  castle  were  there,  and  among 
them  sat  the  fisher  folk  in  the  place  of 
honor. 


GOLDEN  SNOW.  61 

All  over  the  northern  Gold  Land  flew 
the  joyous  snow-flakes,  dancing  at  the 
wedding  of  their  princess. 

Everywhere  in  the  grand  saloon,  and 
through  the  winding  corridors  of  the  cas- 
tle, with  strains  of  rich  music  mingled  the 
clear  mysterious  voices : — 

"  All  the  north  land  now  shall  know, 
The  most  beautiful  maiden  is  Golden  Snow. 
We  are  her  sisters,  snow-flakes  white, 
*  She  is  the  princess  of  golden  light." 

Thus  all  were  happy,  save  the  consul's 
daughter,  whose  pride  and  rage  devoured 
her.  For  one  day  every  month  she  was 
doomed  to  be  the  slave  of  the  wicked  old 
witch,  which  was  wretchedness.  At  last, 
one  night,  when  her  tasks  had  been  too 
hard  for  endurance,  from  her  great  weari- 
ness and  sickness  of  heart,  she  cried  out, 
"  O  Lord  Christ,  forgive  and  pity  me !" 

Then  the  old  witch  gave  a  wild  shriek 


62  FAIRY  TALES. 

of  madness,  and  disappeared  in  the  black 
shadows  of  the  canon  forever. 

Because  she  had  hidden  part  of  the 
golden  snow,  by  this  prayer  the  maiden 
was  delivered  out  of  her  hands. 

The  selfish  pride  of  the  consul's  daugh- 
ter was  humbled,  and  she  grew  so  gentle 
and  good,  that  all,  even  the  poor  and  de- 
pendent, learned  to  love  her,  so  that  she, 
too,  became,  in  heart,  a  beautiful  maiden. ' 


GRACIA    AND    CATRINA. 

NEAR  tlie  Mission  of  San  Diego  lived  a 
very  wealthy  Spaniard  and  his  wife,  the 
most  "beautiful  senora  in  all  the  country 
for  many  miles  around. 

They  had  every  thing  about  them  to 
make  life  pleasant :  a  fine  orange  and  lemon 
grove;  a  large  garden,  containing  olive, 
almond,  peach,  and  pear  trees ;  indeed,  all 
kinds  of  fruit  and  flowers,  that  the  luxu- 
rious climate  of  San  Diego  produces. 

Their  house  was  pleasant,  and  furnished 
with  all  the  comforts  and  many  of  the 
luxuries  of  life ;  and  when  God  blessed 
them  with  a  little  daughter,  they  felt  as 
though  there  was  nothing  left  to  wish  for. 
The  child  resembled  her  beautiful  mamma 


64  FAIRY  TALES. 

in  features  as  much  as  the  tiny  bud  is  like 
the  full-blown  rose. 

The  hidalgo  had  never  ceased  to  regard 
his  wife  with  that  kind  of  worshipful  love 
so  dear  to  woman's  heart ;  and  his  great 
delight  was  to  watch  tenderly  over  mother 
and  child,  that  even  the  slightest  wish 
might  not  pass  ungratified. 

As  it  grew  older,  the  little  one  learned 
to  recognize  the  glance  of  love ;  and  when 
at  last  it  would  open  its  large  dark  eyes 
and  look  eagerly  at  the  dear  papa,  and, 
holding  out  its  tiny  hands,  crow  with  all 
the  innocent  delight  of  infancy,  he  would 
take  the  babe  in  his  arms,  and  all  the 
harsh  lines  about  his  mouth  softened  into 
smiles.  He  was  happier  than  any  one  in 
the  whole  country,  except  the  delighted 
mother,  who  was  never  weary  of  looking 
upon  the  darling  of  her  heart. 

The  senora  was  a  devout  Catholic,  and, 


GRACIA  AND  CATRINA.  65 

though  she  seldom  left  the  child  alone 
with  her  nurse,  as  the  feast  of  Corpus 
Christ!  approached,  she  felt  that  this  year, 
above  all  others  so  blessed  to  her  in  the 
birth  of  her  beloved  child,  she  should 
assist  in  the  celebration.  On  "the  morning 
of  the  holy  day,  she  gave  her  treasure, 
with  many  charges,  into  the  care  of  the 
old  servant,  bidding .  her  on  no  account 
whatever  to  leave  the  child,  even  for  a 
moment.  Twice,  as  she  was  about  leaving, 
she  returned  to  embrace  the  little  one, 
with  her  soft  eyes  filled  with  tears.  As 
she  covered  the  face  of  her  babe  with 
kisses,  she  whispered,  "  Mamma  loves  thee. 
Mijita  mia.  Foolish  mamma  trembles  to 
leave  thee,  yet  the  divine  eye  of  the  Holy 
Mother  will  watch  over  thee.  Mia  vida, 
mia  vida  /"  Then  came  the  sound  of  mu- 
sic, and  the  voice  of  the  hidalgo  calling 
her ;  so  with  a  last  embrace,  with  mingled 


66  FAIRY  TALES. 

smiles  and  tears,  the  young  mother  parted 
from  her  little  one,  for  the  first  time  since 
its  birth. 

There  was  to  be  a  large  procession 
formed  upon  the  plaza,  where  rustic  booths 
were  built,  "and  ornamented  according  to 
the  taste  and  wealth  of  the  devout,  who 
often  sacrificed  the  comfort  of  weeks,  to  be 
able  to  give  this  tribute  of  honor  to  the 
Holy  Mother  and  the  Blessed  Christ. 

Pictures  of  the  Madonna  were  placed 
upon  the  rude  altars,  entwined  with  beau- 
tiful wreaths,  while  rare  flowers  shed  their 
rich  incense  from  costly  vases.  The  senora 
had  spared  neither  money  nor  pains. 

"  It  is  in  honor  of  the  Merciful  Christ — • 
the  Redeemer  of  the  world,"  she  said ; 
"  let  every  thing  be  as  worthy  of  His 
greatness  as  possible ;  it  will  fall  far  short 
of  what  my  thankful  heart  would  offer." 

Pictures  from  the  hands  of  the  old  mas- 


GRACIA   AXD   CATRIXA.  67 

ters  were  brought  from  the  house,  with 
tapestry  and  fringes ;  and  every  thing  that 
the  luxurious  climate  produced  was  added, 
until  nothing  seemed  wanting  to  make  it 
the  one  booth  of  enchanting  beauty. 

The  senora  superintended  the  arrange- 
ment of  all,  while  the  senor  sat  a  little 
apart,  watching  with  delight  the  magic 
workings  of  her  exquisite  taste  and  refine- 
ment. All  this  time  the  nurse  held  the 
infant  in  her  arms,  singing  quaint  old 
Indian  ballads,  rocking  her  to  and  fro 
with  a  soothing  motion,  till  at  last  the 
restless  fingers  were  stilled  and  the  pretty 
eyes  closed.  The  little  one  slept,  and 
dreamed,  no  doubt,  such  dreams  as  the 
loving  God  sends  to  guileless  infancy. 

Just  then  the  procession  started,  and 
the  music  fell  upon  the  ear  of  the  young 
Indian  girl  who  was  always  near  to  wait 
upon  old  Macata,  the  nurse. 


68  FAIRY  TALES. 

"  Macata,"  she  said,  as  she  started  lightly 
from  the  mat  on  which  she  was  sitting,  "  it 
touches  my  heart ;  I  must  go !  See,  the 
baby  sleeps.  Nothing  can  harm  it.  Come, 
.mother  Macata,  only  for  a  moment !" 

"  Nothing  can  harm  it,"  said  the  old  In- 
dian, as  she  laid  the  child  in  its  little 
straw  cradle,  for  she,  too,  loved  the  festive 
sight  and  glad  music  of  the  fete. 

She  had  wished,  of  all  things,  to  join 
the  gossips  of  the  mission  on  the  plaza, 
but,  since  that  could  not  be,  she  saw  no 
reason,  while  the  child  was  sleeping  so 
sweetly,  that  she  should  not  go  to  the 
garden  wall,  and  for  a  few  moments  catch 
a  passing  glimpse  of  the  gay  procession. 
She  bent  over  the  child,  patting  it  softly 
with  her  great  strong  hand,  and  singing 
in  a  low  voice: — 

"  Sleep !  baby,  sleep ! 
While  I  softly  creep 


GRACIA  AND  CATRINA.  69 

To  the  roadside  near ; 
Sleep,  baby,  dear." 

The  little  form  was  so  still  and  peaceful. 
Surely  there  could  be  no  danger !  So  the 
nurse,  who  loved  her  dearly,  knelt  down 
and  kissed  her  very  lightly,  saying,  in  the 
Indian  tongue, 

"  Master  of  life,  preserve  the  little  white 
rosebud." 

Again  she  pressed  her  dusky  lips  to  the 
sweet  little  face,  so  peaceful  in  its  innocent 
repose,  then  ran  away  through  the  garden 
to  the  roadside,  with  her  companion,  the 
bright-eyed  Indian  girl. 

It  was  a  rare  sight  in  the  eyes  of  these 
simple  Indians,  that  long  procession,  with 
its  swelling  music  and  .waving  banners. 
All  the  Indian  lads  and  maidens  in  the 
country  were  there,  dressed  in  their  gala 
attire,  while  the  bright-colored  handker- 
chiefs and  shawls  of  the  more  rustic  se- 


70  FAIRY  TALES. 

noras,  as  they  rode  by  on  horseback,  added 
not  a  little  to  the  festive  scene. 

For  full  fifteen  minutes  they  sat  watch- 
ing the  procession,  crouching  behind  the 
garden  wall,  that  the  senora  might  not  see 
them.  Well  they  knew  her  eyes  would  be 
attracted  by  the  magnetism  of  love  to  her 
child  and  home. 

"  See,  mother  Macata,"  said  the  young 
girl,  sorrowfully,  "  there  are  all  my  mates, 
while  I  am  here.  Oh  !  how  I  wish  I  could 
go  with  them !" 

Just  then  the  senora  passed,  and,  mid 
all  the  joy  of  the  occasion,  Macata  saw  a 
look  of  deep  solicitude  in  her  face  as  she 
turned  toward  the  house.  "  We  must  go," 
said  the  old  woman,  taking  the  hand  of 
the  young  girl. 

"  Only  one  moment,"  replied  the  maiden  ; 
and  while  old  Macata  yielded,  she  could 
not  suppress  an  emotion  of  uneasiness 


GRACIA  AND  CATRIXA.  71 

which  the  senora's  look  liad  nervously 
roused. 

"  Now !  now !"  said  the  old  woman, 
nervously,  as  again  she  clasped  the  hand 
of  the  girl,  and  dragged  her  away  from  the 
attractive  scene. 

"You  know  the  baby  sleeps,"  said  the 
girl,  pettishly;  but  Macata,  in  her  uneasi- 
ness, hurried  onward.  * 

They  passed  through  the  pleasant  gar- 
den into  the  silent  house,  and  the  softly 
shaded  room  where  they  had  left  the  sleep- 
ing child.  There  stood  the  dainty  little 
cradle,  but  the  child  was  gone ! 

At  first  they  thought  some  of  the  serv- 
ants had  returned  and  taken  it  to  some 
other  room ;  but  when  they  had  searched 
the  whole  house,  and  ran,  calling  in  vain, 
through  the  garden,  they  were  almost  wild 
with  fright. 

Tears   streamed   from    the   eyes   of  tho 


72  FAIRY  TALES. 

young  girl  as  she  looked  helplessly  into 
the  face  of  old  Macata,  who  tore  her  long 
hair,  and  moaned  piteously.  She  could 
not  cease  looking,  although  it  seemed 
hopeless. 

"  In  so  short  a  time  to  disappear,  and 
leave  no  trace  behind  to  aid  this  search !" 
The  child  !  The  poor  little  innocent  child 
she  loved  so  dearly,  gone,  she  knew  not 
where !  How  could  she  meet  the  father 
and  mother? 

Thus,  full  of  despair,  she  ran  about, 
looking  in  vain,  and  calling  wildly  upon 
her  darling,  until  the  senor  and  his  wife 
returned. 

To  picture  the  scene  that  followed  would 
be  impossible.  The  torturing  grief  of  the 
unhappy  father  was  mingled  with  all  the 
terrors  of  suspense,  and  the  desolate  heart 
of  the  sorrowing  mother  refused  to  be 
comforted.  -Day  and  night  she  sobbed 


GRACIA*  AND  CATRINA.  73 

bitterly,  "  Would  that  God  had  taken  my 
baby  to  himself!" 

The  whole  country  was  roused.  The 
search  continued  for  many  days,  till  hope 
died  out  in  every  heart.  Then  it  was  that 
a  fearful  fever  seized  the  mother,  exhausted 
by  grief,  want  of  sleep,  and  the  fatigues  of 
a  hopeless  search.  For  weeks  her  life  was 
despaired  of;  and  when  at  last  the  fever 
left  her,  the  light  had  gone  from  her  eye, 
the  smile  from  her  lips,  and  the  hope  of 
happiness  from  her  heart. 

The  old  Macata  never  left  her  side.  ^Ai 
first  the  mother  shuddered  when  she  came 
near ;  but  as  she  looked  upon  the  hair  of 
the  old  woman,  which,  since  the  loss  of  the 
child,  had  become  white  as  the  driven 
snow,  her  heart  softened,  and  she  shed  her 
first  tears  upon  the  bosom  of  the  penitent 
and  sorrowing  nurse. 

For  many  weeks  the  luxury  of  tears  had 

4 


74  FAIRY  TALES. 

been  denied  her,  and,  from  that  first  burst- 
ing of  the  flood-gates  of  her  grief,  she 
could  not  bear  the  old  Indian  long  out  of 
her  sight.  A  mutual  sorrow  bound  their 
hearts  together. 

Macata  could  never  do  enough  for  the 
dear,  sad  senora,  but  sometimes  she  would 
go  to  her,  saying,  "  Bless  me  now,  senora 
dear ;  I  am  going  to  look  for  our  baby." 

Then  the  senora  would  ble§s  her,  and 
say,  "  Go,  my  poor  Macata." 

All  day  long  she  roamed  through  woods, 
down  deep  into  the  shadowy  canons,  or 
upon  the  mountain  tops.  After  weary 
hours,  and  sometimes  days,  of  fruitless 
search,  she  would  return,  worn  and  heart- 
broken with  her  vain  wanderings.  Kneel- 
ing before  the  senora,  weeping,  and  wring- 
ing her  hands,  she  would  cry,  "  Oh  !  dear 
senora,  forgive  me !  I  have  not  found  our 
baby.  I  lost  it,  !.mt  I  will  find  it.  I  will 


GRACIA  AND   CATRINA.  75 

find  it  before  I  die,  so  help  roe,  Wacondah, 
Great  Spirit !" 

Often  the  old  woman  fell  fainting  at  the 
feet  of  her  beloved  senora,  who  would 
have  her  raised  tenderly  and  placed  upon 
the  bed,  where  for  hours  she  sat  by  her, 
watching  and  weeping. 

Thus  these  two  sorrowing  ones,  the 
broken-hearted  mother  and  the  grief-crazed 
nurse,  became  very  dear  to  each  other. 

The  father  mourned  deeply,  but  to  the 
heart  of  man  time  brings  its  softening 
balm.  He  loved  his  wife  fondly,  and,  for 
her  sake,  sometimes  tried  to  waken  a  hope 
that  the  child  might  be  restored  to  them. 
Yet  within  his  shadowed  heart  he  mourned 
the  precious  one  as  dead. 

Very  sadly  he  missed  the  tiny  out- 
stretched hands  that  once  were  sure  to 
greet  him,  and  that  radiant  little  face  that 
was  all  the  world  to  him;  and  as  months- 


76  FAIRY  TALES. 

and  years  went  by,  whenever  he  looked 
upon  a  little  maiden  full  of  grace  and 
beauty,  he  would  press  his  hand  to  his 
heart  in  sorrow,  for  "what  might  have 
been." 

Sometimes  the  senora,  leaning  her  weary 
head  on  his  breast,  would  say :  "  I  shall 
know  my  darling,  no  matter  how  many 
years  shall  pass  before  we  meet."  Then 
she  would  clasp  her  hands,  exclaiming: 
"  What  if  I  should  die  before  Macata.  finds 
her?  Then,  oh  !  then,  \  shall  know  her  in 
heaven,"  she  would  bow  her  head  lower 
upon  the  beloved  breast  in  prayer.  Thus 
she  would  remain  till  the  tender  voice  of 
the  hidalgo  aroused  her;  then  she  would 
clasp  her  thin  hands  about  his  neck,  and 
look  pityingly  into  his  eyes  to  see  the  sor- 
row of  her  heart  reflected  there. 

Thus  it  was  with  the  parents  as  the  years 
passed  sadly  by,  but  all  the  while  the  sea- 


GRACIA  AND  CATKIN  A.  77 

sons  went  and  came  again;  the  sunshine 
gladdened  the  earth ;  the  rainbow  beautified 
the  shower ;  the  flowers  blossomed  in  the 
garden ;  and  young  hearts  beat  happily  as 
theirs  upon  their  bridal  day. 

****:::*# 

On  that  bright  morning  of  the  fete  of 
Corpus  Christi,  which  resulted  so  unfortu- 
nately for  the  hidalgo  and  the  poor  senora, 
Macata  had  not  noticed  that  the  garden 
gate  was  left  unlocked,  nor  in  her  haste  did 
she  see  the  crouching  form  of  a  fierce-look- 
ing woman  hiding  behind  the  lime-tree. 

No  sooner  was  she  and  the  young  girl 
out  of  sight  than  the  woman  rose  stealth- 
ily, and  gathering  up  her  coarse  brown 
cloak  around  her,  glided  swiftly  through 
the  garden  and  into  the  room  where  the 
cradle  stood,  still  moving  from  the  parting 
motion  of  Macata's  hand.  Glancing  hastily 
around,  she  snatched  up  the  still  sleeping 


78  FAIRY   TALES. 

child,  and  wrapping  it  in  the  folds  of  hei 
cloak,  ran  out  of  the  garden,  away  from  the 
road,  on  through  the  orange-grove,  and  be- 
fore Macata  and  the  girl  returned,  was  far 
away  out  of  sight. 

Still  on  she  went,  through  the  vineyard, 
and  over  the  hill  beyond  ;  nor  did  she 
pause  for  a  moment  after  she  entered  the 
thick  wood,  until  miles  away  in  the  dusk 
of  the  evening,  deep  down  in  a  canon  she 
came  to  a  rude  cottage  overhung  with  trees 
and  rocks. 

All  day  long  the  delicate  child  had 
been  out  in  the  burning  sunshine,  tast- 
ing nothing  but  a  tortilla  moistened  in 
water. 

When  they  entered  the  cottage  she  had 
cried  herself  to  sleep,  and  her  little  head 
rested  wearily  upon  the  bosom  of  the 
woman  who  had  stolen  her  from  her  mother 
and  her  happy  home. 


GRACIA  AND  CATRItfA.  79 

On  the  floor  sat  a  little  girl  shelling 
beans.  She  was  a  poor,  misshapen  child  of 
misfortune,  with  a  sad  mark  of  suffering 
upon  her  face,  which,  when  the  woman  en- 
tered, deepened. 

"  Take  this  child,  Catrina.  Put  it  away 
anywhere — anywhere  out  of  sight.  It  is 
hateful  to  me."  Then  throwing  off  the 
"brown  cloak,  and  rubbing  her  hands,  she 
drew  near  the  fire,  adding :  "  Be  in  a  hurry, 
girl.  Give  me  my  supper,  for  I  am  tired 
and  hungry." 

The  young  girl  had  taken  the  little  one  and 
laid  it  upon  the  bed,  and,  though  there  was 
an  expression  of  surprise  upon  her  face,  she 
placed  the  supper  upon  the  table  without 
speaking.  Then,  placing  chairs,  she  and 
the  woman  sat  down  together.  Still  not  a 
word  was  spoken.  By  and  by,  after  they 
had  eaten,  and  the  dishes  were  washed,  the 
hearth  swept,  and  more  fagots  heaped 


80  FAIRY  TALES. 

upon  the  fire,  the  girl  pointed  to  the  sleep- 
ing child. 

"  Let  her  be,"  said  the  woman,  crossly. 
"I  can  not  support  you  in  idleness.  Go 
shell  your  beans." 

The  girl  placed  a  cup  of  milk  at  the  fire, 
sat  down  again  to  her  task,  and,  for  a  long 
time,  nothing  was  heard  but  the  crackling 
pods.  At.  length  the  woman  spoke. 

"  It  is  little  use  in  talking  to  you,  Ca- 
trina:  but  I  must  speak  sometimes,  and 
you  are  the  only  being  I  have  about  me, 
and  you  can  not  tell  what  I  say.  You  can 
not  remember,  Catrina!  Many  years  ago 
I  was  beautiful ;  I  was  young.  Now  I  am 
old,  not  with  years  !  See  this  hair  once  so 
glossy — look  at  it." 

She  caught  out  the  comb  with  an  angry 
grasp,  and  all  over  her  neck  and  shoulders 
fell  the  heavy  tangles  of  long,  gray  hair. 

"I  was   young,  beautiful,  and  beloved. 


GRACIA   AND   CATRIXA.  81 

Oh,  it  seems  an  age  of  years  ago  !  I  have 
been  so  wretched  since.  That  child's  father 
caused  his  death  !  I  lived !  God  knows 
how  till  your  father  came,  and  I  married 
him.  For  love  ?  Oh,  no,  for  the  poor  protec- 
tion that  woman's  nature  craves  and  a  shel- 
ter from  despair.  But  even  this  failed  me  ! 

"  What  a  life  for  both  !  Bat  I  am  re- 
venged, ha  !  -ha !  They  will  wait  long  for 
their  pretty  darling,  now."  The  woman 
laughed  wildly,  and  such  a  look  of  hate 
and  exultation  covered  her  face,  that,  in  the 
fitful  fire-light,  was  almost  fiendish. 

Catrina  dropped  her  hands  on  her  lap, 
and  shuddered,  while  her  eyes  were  fixed 
upon  the  wretched  woman  with  a  kind  of 
fascination. 

u  Go  to  work !  go  to  work  !  I  say,  you 
stupid  little  witch,  what  are  you  staring  at? 
You  look  as  if  you  were  frightened  out  of 
the  little  sense  you  have." 

4* 


82  •  FAIRY   TALES. 

Again  the  woman  laughed  a  strange 
laugh,  that  grated  harshly  upon  the  ear  of 
the  unfortunate  girl.  Tears  filled  her  eyes, 
but  still  no  reply. 

Poor  child !  she  had  never  spoken  one 
word  in  her  short  but  sorrowful  life.  She 
was  only  the  poor  little  step-daughter  of 
the  woman,  and  since  the  death  of  her 
father  she  had  been  unhappy. 

The  noise  had  awakened  the  little  one, 
and  opening  her  large  eyes,  she  looked 
around  first  with  wonder,  and  then  with 

fear,  at  the  strange  place  and  strange  faces 

«• 
before  her.     The  woman  rose  and  took  her 

in  her  arms. 

"  So,  little  chick,  you  are  awake,  and  how 
do  you  think  your  lady  mamma  feels  now, 
and  your  proud  papa  ?  Ha !  ha !  he  never 
thought  how  I  felt,  when  years  ago  he 
brought  death  to  my  heart,  nor  will  I  think 
of  him." ' 


GRACIA  AND   CATRINA.  g3 

Slowly  she  began  swaying  the  child  t ) 
and  fro,  talking  fiercely  all  the  while.  The 
tiny  lips  of  the  baby  quivered,  as,  for  a  mo- 
ment, she  suppressed  her  cry,  then  a  pitiful 
wail  filled  the  cottage. 

Catrina  was  preparing  the  bowl  of  bread 
and  milk,  and  as  she  approached,  the  little 

one  held  out  her  hands,  and  when  Catrina 

• 

took  her  she  hid  her  face  in  her  bosom  arid 
sobbed  softly.  The  child  was  hungry,  and 
as  the  girl  offered  her  the  bread  and  milk, 
she  ate  it  eagerly,  but  all  the  while  her 
frightened  gaze  was  fixed  upon  the  face  of 
the  woman,  who  seemed  to  grow  uneasy 
before  the  pitiful  terror  of  those  innocent 
eyes. 

"  It  is  always  so  now.  Even  this  child 
shrinks  from  me,  and  I  don't  mean  to  harm 
her.  She  has  her  bread  and  milk  here,  if  it 
is  not  in  a  silver  bowl.  Ah  !  my  heart  is 
of  stone,  now — of  stone  !"  and  instinctively 


84:  *  FAIRY   TALES 

she  folded  her  arms  over  her  bosom,  and, 
rocking  herself,  gazed  into  the  fire  as  though 
she  were  reading  the  future  in  its  fitful 
embers. 

No  wonder  that  the  child,  used  only  to 
tenderness,  looked  fearfully  upon  that  pale, 
dark  face,  grown  prematurely  old.  Her  hair 
still  hung  over  her  shoulders,  a  long  and 
tangled  mass,  all  its  purple  luster,  all  its 
beauty  gone  forever.  There  was  a  strange, 
wild  look  about  the  eyes,  and  under  them 
a  dark,  sunken  circle.  Far  into  the  night 
she  sat  brooding  over  the  glowing  em- 
bers, till  they  were  turned  to  blackened 
cinders. 

That  night  Catrina  had  a  more  pleasant 
dream  than  she  had  known  since  her  father 
died. 

After  the  little  one  had  eaten  her  supper, 
Catrina  undressed  her,  and  wrapping  her 
in  a  blanket,  placed  her  in  her  own  bed, 


GRACIA  AND  CATRINA.  85 

patting  her  caressingly  with  her  hand  till 
she  fell  asleep. 

Catrina  lay  down  beside  her,  and  soon 
she  dreamed  that  an  angel  came  to  the  cot- 
tage and  changed  the  darkness  to  light, 
that  even  her  step-mother's  face  grew  gentle 
and  tender,  and  her  voice  soft  and  low  in 
that  blessed  presence.  Her  own  weary 
heart  grew  light,  and  as  she  looked  fondly 
at  this  angel,  full  of  gratitude  for  her  new- 
born happiness,  she  saw  only  the  child  be- 
fore her,  but  clearly  she  heard  these  words, 
in  the  well-remembered  tones  of  her  father's 
voice,  saying: — 

"This  child  shall  be  the  angel  of  the 
house."  She  awoke  to  find  her  face  bathed 
in  tears,  and  kissed  the  baby  a  hundred 
times,  and  in  her  silence  prayed  God  to 
bless  the  darling. 

Already  the  joy  of  an  angel's  presence 
filled  her  heart.  Poor  little  Catrina  !  She 


8(5  FAIRY  TALES. 

was  only  a  child  of  ten  years,  yet  her  face 
looked  pinched,  old,  and  careworn.  This 
was  not  strange  for  the  work  of  the  cottage 
fell  to  her  small  hands,  and  there  was  no 
one  to  say  :  "  You  have  done  well,  my  little 
Catrina." 

She  could  not  remember  her  own  gentle 
mother.,  nor  when  the  step-mother  came  to 
them,  but  she  never  forgot  the  sad  face  of 
the  dear  papa,  when  he  used  to  put  his 
hand  upon  her  tangled  hair,  saying  :  "  Ca- 
trina, you  will  miss  papa ;  no  one  else  but 
my  poor  little  desolate  Mljita  mia,  Mijita 
mia"  Then  he  would  turn  to  hide  the  tears 
that  would  'not  be  driven  back.  In  those 
days  of  illness  he  was  helpless  as  Catrina 
in  her  babyhood. 

One  day,  when  the  step-mother  had  been 
gone  since  the  dawning,  the  father  seemed 
to  sleep,  Catrina  sat  very  silently  for  many 
hours,  for  young  as  she  was,  she  did  not 


GRACJA  AND   CATRI^A.  87 

wish  to  disturb  poor  sick  papa  when  sleep- 
ing. She  grew  very  weary,  but  still  he  did 
not  wake ;  so  she  ran  softly  to  the  bedside, 
and  looked  at  him  till  her  heart  grew  faint. 
He  lay  so  still,  and  was  very  pale ;  and 
when  she  climbed  up  and  laid  her  little 
face  against  his,  she  shuddered  and  wept 
bitterly,  it  was  so  very  cold.  After  a  while 
the  step-mother  returned.  Soon  some  men 
came  and  took  the  father  away,  and  though 
they  looked  very  rough,  one  of  them  stop- 
ped and  gave  her  a  tortilla,  saying :  "  Poor 
little  young  one,  she  has  lost  her  best 
friend." 

•4W 

As  soon  as  the  little  girl  could  do 
any  thing,  the  step-mother  gave  her 
plenty  of  work.  Thus  the  years  went 
by  till  the  eve  of  the  fete  of  Corpus 
Christi,  when  baby  Gracia  was  brought 
to  the  cottage. 

It  seemed  like  the  dawn  of  a  new  life  to 


88  FAIRY  TALES. 

the  lonely  Catrina  to  look  into  that  sweet 
baby  face,  and  when  the  little  one  learned 
to  love  her  and  cry  for  her,  though  she 
found  her  task  much  heavier,  her  heart 
grew  so  light  that  her  little  hands  worked 
wonders. 

The  woman  took  off  the  pretty  coral 
necklace  and  sleeve  clasps,  and  all  the 
child's  fine  clothes,  and  placed  them  in  the 
strong  oaken  chest  at  the  head  of  her  bed. 
Little  Gracia  was  dressed  in  clothes  coarse 
as  Catrina's,  but  still  she  grew  more  lovely 
every  day,  and  looked  like  a  little  princess 
in  her  rags. 

Even  the  seared  heart  of  the  woman  soft- 
ened to  the  winning  ways  of  the  pretty 
child,  though  sometimes  she  would  drive 
her  away,  exclaiming :  "  Go,  go  from  me — • 
I  hate  the  race."  At  other  times  she  would 
take  her  in  her  arms,  saying :  "  The  baby 
is  not  to  blame,"  and  with  tears  dimming 


GRACIA  AND  CATRINA.  89 

her   eyes,  cover  the  little  face  with  fond 
caresses. 


Thus  passed  five  long  years  at  the  cot- 
tage. Gatrina  had  grown  stronger,  and 
more  shapely.  Her  face  was  full  of  love 
and  tenderness,  though  exposure  had  made 
her  skin  very  rough  and  brown.  Gracia 
had  changed  from  babyhood  to  a  sportive 
child,  graceful  as  a  young  fawn. 

One  rainy  night  the  woman  came  home 
very  late,  leaning  heavily  upon  j;he  arm 
of  an  old  Indian,  who  with  great  difficulty 
supported  her  trembling  steps.  She  was 
very  ill,  and  she  felt  the  cold  shadow  of 
death  falling  upon  her. 

Gracia  was  asleep,  but  Catrina  sat  by 
the  fire  waiting,  and  keeping  the  supper 
hot.  She  was  frightened  when  she  saw 
the  pale  face  of  the  step-mother,  and  trem- 


90  FAIRY  TALES. 

bled  with  fear  as  she  helped  the  Indian 
to  lay  her  upon  the  bed. 

For  a  few  moments  the  sick  woman  was 
silent  from  exhaustion,  but  after  a  time 
she  called  Catrina  to  her. 

"  Listen  to  me,  Catrina,  for  my  time  is 
growing  short.  I  have  been  cruel  to  .  you 
at  times,  but  you  have  been  always  good 
and  true.  Forgive  me  now,  my  poor  Catri- 
na as  you  pray  the  good  Lord  to  forgive 
you." 

Here   the   woman    grew   so    faint   that 

she    was   obliged   to   stop   speaking,   and 

*. 

Catrina  wept  as  though  her  heart  would 
break. 

Poor  girl!  she  had  been  hardly  used, 
but  she  knew  no  other  fate ;  and  though 
she  did  not  love  the  step-mother  as  she  did 
the  little  Gracia,  it  seemed  very  desolate 
to  sit  there  by  the  dying  woman  who  had 
given  her  a  home,  poor  though  it  was. 


GRACIA  AND   CATKIN  A.  91 

She  pressed  the  cold  hand  to  her  lips,  and 
buried  her  head  in  the  bed-clothes. 

"  Oh  !  that  child  !"  gasped  the  wretched 
woman.  "  Catrina,  I  have  no  time  to  lose. 
I  see  every  thing  so  differently. 

"  I  have  been  crazy,  but  all  is  clear  now. 
Catrina,  when  you  think  of  rne  remember 
me  only  as  a  poor  suffering  woman,  and 
forgive  me,  as  you  hope  for  God's  mercy. 

"  But  the  child !  in  that  trunk  you  will 
find  her  clothes  and  papers  which  will 
prove  her  birth.  Her  father  is  a  good  and 
true  man,  as  I  have  learned  this  day.  My 
life's  great  wrong  came  from  another's 
hand. 

"  Promise  me,  Catrina,  that  you  will 
never  rest  till  you  have  restored  her  to  her 
home,  and  the  parents  who  love  her." 

The  step-mother's  words  gcew  fainter, 
but  her  eyes,  full  of  the  brightness  of 
expiring  fires,  were  fixed  upon  Catrina, 


92  FAIRY  TALES. 

who  reverently  made  the  sign  of  the  cross, 
and  bowed  her  head  in  solemn  acquies- 
cence. 

"  Catrina,"  she  continued,  "go  up  to 
the  canon,  keeping  to  the  right,  then  over 
the  mountain  path,  till  you  come  to  the 
great  wood."  A  spasm  of  pain  convulsed 
her,  and  she  ceased  speaking.  In  a  few 
moments  it  passed  away,  and  a  calm 
happy  smile  settled  upon  her  face. 

"  I  repent  of  all  my  sins ;  I  forgive  even 
the  murderer  of  him  who  was  dearer  than 
my  life.  Now,  may  God  have  mercy  upon 
my  soul." 

The  husky  voice  was  hushed,  the  claspeil 
hands  relaxed,  and  the  suffering  woman 
was  dead ! 

"  She  has  gone  to  the  land  of  the  Great 
Spirit,  and*  He  has  blessed  her,"  said  the 
Indian,  filled  with  amazement  to  sea  the 
troubled  face  grow  so  caltn  ia  death. 


GRACIA  AND  CATKIN  A.  93 

They  buried  her  in  the  shadow  of  the 
deep  canon,  and  the  children  were  left 
alone.  The  kind  Indian  came  every  day 
to  the  cottage  to  look  after  them,  bringing 
always  a  bag  of  tortillas  and  fruits. 

One  morning,  about  a  week  after  the 
death  of  the  step-mother,  he  found  Catrina 
and  Gracia  just  leaving  the  cottage.  As 
he  gave  Catrina  the  tortillas  she  shook 
his  hand  long  and  kindly,  and  the  tears 
glistened  in  her  eyes,  but  she  could  not 
speak  to  tell  him  she  was  going  away, 
never  to  rest,  until  she  had  led  Gracia 
back  to  her  home. 

For  many  days  the  Indian  returned  with 
Ms  bag  of  tortillas,  and  went  sadly  away, 
for  the  cottage  was  alone  in  the  dusky 
shadows. 

The  children  took  the  path  to  the  rig! it 
out  of  the  canon,  then  on  up  the  steep 
mountain  way.  Catrina  carried  Gracia1  s 


94  FAIRY  TALES. 

baby-clothes  in  her  arms,  and  a  large  bag 
of  tortillas,  for  she  had  eaten  sparingly  for 
a  week,  that  she  might  have  food  for  a 
long  journey. 

After  awhile  Gracia*  became  weary,  ^nd 
then  Catrina  took  her  in  her  arms,  though 
they  seemed  full,  but  the  willing  heart 
found  a  ready  way  to  help  her  darling. 

At  last  they  reached  the  top  of  the 
mountain,  so  very  worn  and  weary,  that 
after  they  had  eaten  their  dinners,  Gracia 
fell  heavily  upon  Catrina' s  lap,  but  she 
could  no  longer  support  the  weight  of  the 
child ;  so,  folding  her  in  her  arms,  they  lay 
down  upon  the  soft  turf  together  and  slept 
as  soundly  as  though  it  had  been  a  bed  of 
down. 

The  shadows  were  growing  very  long 
\\li-n  the  young  girls  awoke,  and  all  the 
west  was  glowing  with  fleecy  amber 
clouds.  The  sunset  in  the  clear  purti 


GRACIA   AND    CATRIXA.  95 

atmosphere  of  the  mountains  seemed  so 
much  more  rich  and  beautiful  than  in  the 
dim  canon,  that  little  Gracia's  eyes  shone 
with  delight. 

"  Oh  !  Catrina,"  she  exclaimed,  "  surely 
that  is  the  glorious  heaven  we  see  before 
us.  Do  you  not  remember  what  the  good 
padre  told*  us,  when  he  came  to  the  cot- 
tage? Let  us  hurry,  Catrina,  'tis  not  so 
very  far.  Perhaps  we  can  get  thete  before 
dark." 

Catrina  caught  the  hand  of  the  excited 
child,  and  making  the  sign  of  the  cross, 
knelt  down  with  her  face  toward  the  sun- 
set, and  prayed  for  the  soul  of  the  un- 
happy step-mother,  for  the  little  Gracia, 
whom  she  loved  dearly,  and  last  of  all  for 
herself. 

The  radiance  of  the  sunset  fell  upon  the 
poor  dumb  girl,  and  shed  its  shining 
beauty  upon  her  face.  When  Catiina 

•-. 
JJL^  - 


96  FAIRY  TALES. 

arose,  Gracia  looked  at  her  witli  eyes  fuJl 
of  eager  wonder. 

"  How  God  loves  you,  Catrina,"  she 
whispered.  "  He  threw  his  glory  all 
around  you  when  you  prayed."  Catrina 
smiled  and  kissed  the  child,  and  giving 
her  a  tortilla,  they  began  to  descend  the 
mountain,  but  the  twilight  came  on  so  fast 
that  very  soon  they  could  hardly  see  their 
way. 

Gracia  clasped  Catrina' s  hand  very 
closely,  saying :  "I  should  be  afraid -in  the 
dark,  only  God  loves  you  so  much,  and 
heaven  is  so  near." 

Thus  they  went  on  as  long  as  they  could 
see,  and  then  sat  down  in  the  darkness, 
and  by  and  by  slept  again. 

Catrina  woke  early  in  the  morning,  and 
seeing  a  lime-tree  not  far  distant,  covered 
with  fruit,  left  Gracia  sleeping,  and  ran  to 
gather  some.  "  It  will  be  so  nice  with  our 


GRACIA  AND  CATRINA.  97 

dry  tortillas,"  she  thought;  "  and  dear  Gracia 
will  be  pleased  with  the  juicy  fruit/' 

She  made  great  haste,  fearing  lest  the 
child  might  wake,  and  be  frightened  at 
her  absence,  and  in  a  short  time  she  re- 
turned with  her  apron  filled  with  the 
delicious  fruit.  Her  face  lighted  with  the 
smile  of  grateful  love,  as  she  saw  the  little 
girl  still  sleeping  sweetly.  A  moment 
more  and  the  happy  smile  was  turned  to 
an  expression  of  intense  horror. 

Only  a  few  feet  from  the  child  crouched 
the  huge  form  of  an  immense  cougar,  his 
fierce  eyes  gloating  with  hungry  fire  upon 
his  helpless  prey. 

Catrina  remained  transfixed  for  a  mo- 
ment, watching  the  wild  beast,  until  he 
crouched  to  spring  upon  her  darling ;  she 
then  threw  her  arms  over  her  head, 
rushed  forward,  and  by  what  means,  God 
knows,  her  intense  terror  burst  the  prison- 

5 


98  FAIRY  TALES. 

bonds  of  sound,  and  the  dumb  girl  gave 
one  wild,  shrill  cry,  that  made  the  moun- 
tains echo. 

Just  at  that  moment  came  a  sharp  flash 
of  light,  and  the  cougar  lay  weltering  in 
his  blood. 

The  startled  Gracia  woke  to  find  Catri- 
na  lying  as  one  dead  upon  the  ground, 
and  a  handsome  young  boy  coming  for- 
ward to  help  them.  The  little  girl  was 
much  frightened,  and,  weeping  bitterly, 
she  threw  her  arms  around  Catrina  and 
called  piteously, — 

"  Oh,  Catrina !  Catrina !  open  your 
eyes ;  do  not  leave  me,  Catrina ;  God  loves 
you,  He  has  called  you  !" 

Then  Catrina  opened  her  eyes,  and  said, 
with  imperfect  utterance,  "  Don't  cry,  my 
darling.  The  cougar  is  dead.  Don't  cry ; 
he  will  not  hurt  you."  And  she  kissed 
Gracia,  and  cried  as  hard  as  the  child. 


GRA01A  AND  CATRINA.  99 

"  You !  Catrina,  you  speak !"  exclaimed 
little  Gracia,  as  soon  as  she  could  speak, 
for  Catrina' s  caresses. 

"You  speak,  who  never  spoke  in  your 
life.  The  good  God  heard  your  prayer 
last  night.  He  shed  His  glory  upon  you, 
and  now  you  speak."  They  embraced 
each  other,  and  wept  for  joy. 

Then  they  noticed  'the  handsome  boy 
standing  near  them,  resting  upon  his  gun, 
and  Catrina  pressed  his  hand  to  her  lips, 
and  thanked  him  again  and  again. 

They  all  went  to  look  at  the  cougar 
together,  and  Catrina  told  the  wondering 
Gracia  how  very  near  to  heaven  she  had 
been,  and  young  Leon  De  Lande  told  them 
both  how  he  had  started  by  moonlight  to 
hunt  in  the  mountains,  and  how  he 
thanked  God  he  had  been  able  to  save  the 
little  senorita. 

They   sat    down   to    eat   their  tortillas 


100  FAIRY   TALES. 

and  fruit,  and  then  started  for  the  valley. 
Poor  Catrina!  How  delightful  to  he 
able  to  talk,  though  she  needed  practice 
to  be  able  to  speak  plainly. 

She  was  like  a  little  child  just  learning, 
but  she  managed  to  let  Leon  know  all 
about  Gracia,  and  he,  with  delighted 
surprise,  told  her  that  he  knew  her  father, 
who  was  the  richest  senor  in  all  the  coun- 
try, and  that  in  a  few  hours  they  could 
reach  the  vineyard. 

Never  were  there  happier  young  people 
than  went  down  the  mountain  together. 
As  they  entered  the  wood,  whom  should 
they  meet  but  poor  old  nurse,  Macata, 
hunting  for  her  lost  darling. 

"I  have  found  the  little  senorita  for  you, 
good  Macata,"  said  Leon.  Macata  gave 
one  glance  at  Gracia,  then  caught  her  in 
her  arms,  exclaiming,  "  Nitiita  mia  !  Niuita 
mia!  Waconda!  the  Master  of  Life  has 


GRACIA  AND  CATRINA. 

Heard  my  cry  !  I  knew  you  were  not  lost 
for  ever." 

The  old  Indian  started  off  at  full  speed, 
carrying  Gracia  in  her  arms,  sobbing  all 
the  time,  and  blessing  the  Great  Spirit 
that  she  had  lived  to  restore  the  lost  child 
to  the  dear  senora. 

Leon  and  Catrina  could  barely  keep  pace 
with  her,  but  at  last  they  entered  the  very 
room,  where,  five  years  before,  the  beautiful 
child  lay  sleeping  in  her  little  willow 
cradle. 

"  I  have  brought  her  back,  senora,"  cried 
old  Macata,  out  of  breath.  "  It  is  our  little 
white  bud,  senora,  dear  !  Oh  !  Alma  mia  ! 
Mijita  mia,  Waconda  has  not  forgotten 
us !"  The  old  woman  placed  the  child  in 
the  mother's  arms,  and  fell  with  her  face 
upon  the  floor,  weeping  for  joy. 

No  words  can  tell  the  joy  that  filled  the 
house.  Only  the  heart  of  the  father  and 


102  FAIRY  TALES. 

mother  could  feel  how  greatly  God  had 
blessed  them. 

Now  the  years  went  pleasantly  by.  The 
good  Catrina  become  a  lovely  maiden. 
Her  form  gained  strength  and  beauty- 
Her  hair  grew  soft  and  glossy ;  her  skin 
clear  and  smooth,  and  her  brown  eyes 
were  tender  with  the  light  of  happiness. 
But,  most  wonderful  of  all,  her  voice  was  a 
marvel  of  sweetness.  It  was  a  great 
pleasure  to  hear  her  sing  at  evening,  ac- 
companied by  the  soft* music  of  her  light 
guitar.  She  was  loved  by  all,  but  espe- 
cially so  by  the  young  hidalgo,  who  won 
her  for  his  bride. 

Leon  and  Gracia  danced  together  at  the 
wedding,  and  it  was  plain  enough  to  see 
how  devoted  the  brave  young  senor  was 
to  the  graceful  senorita  whose  life  he  had 
saved. 

Gracia  had  grown  more  and  more  beau- 


GRACIA  AND   CATKIN  A.  1Q3 

tiful  every  year,  till  in  all  the  country  she 
was  called  La  Bonita. 

She  had  many  admirers,  but  the  senor 
said,  "  Young  Leon  restored  her  to  us,  and 
to  him  only  will  we  give  our  child."  Thus, 
upon  her  sixteenth  birthday,  the  great 
wedding  feast  was  made,  and  all  San  Diego 
around  re-echoed  the  great  joy.  There 
were  tables  spread  under  the  lime-trees 
for  the  poor,  and  all  the  country  was 
there. 

In  the  quaint  adobe  church  the  mar- 
riage ceremony  was  performed,  and  with  a 
happy  heart  Leon  received  his  bride,  while 
the  father  and  mother  thanked  God  for 
His  most  blessed  gifts,  their  son  and 
daughter.  Thus  all  their  sorrows  ended, 
and  all  their  lives  were  circled  by  the  light 
of  happiness  and  love. 


FAIRY  TALES. 


THE   DANCING   SUNBEAM. 

IN  a  dark,  narrow  street  of  the  city  stood 
a  dingy  tenement  Louse.  Many  people  lived 
within,  and  called  it  by  the  dear  name  of 
home ;  yet  it  was  very  different  from  the 
luxurious  homes  of  the  rich,  surrounded 
by  pleasant  gardens,  filled  with  costly  pic- 
tures, and  a  thousand  beautiful  things  very 
delightful  to  possess.  Nor  was  it  like  the 
comfortable  homes  of  the  middle  class, 
where  the  fire  burns  brightly  in  the  pol- 
ished grate,  and  the  table  is  always  plenti- 
fully spread.  Oh,  no !  The  people  in  the 
tenement  house  were  all  poor,  from  the 
first  floor  front  to  the  attic  back,  which 
was  the  worst  of  all. 

It  was  the  rainy  season,  and  through 


THE   DANCING-  SUNBEAM.  105 

the  roof,  round  the  chimney,  and  between 
the  cracked  and  loosened  weather-boards, 
came  the  driving  rain. 

Then  there  was  a  continual  opening  and 
shutting  of  doors ;  and  at  the  common  en- 
trance, all  day  long  and  far  into  the  night, 
there  was  somebody  always  coming  in,  or 
going  out,  letting  in  the  chilling  blast,  that 
rushed  through  the  muddy  halls,  and  into 
the  rooms,  pinching  the  sick  and  old  in  a 
pitiless  way. 

Altogether,  it  was  not  a  pleasant  place 
to  live  in ;  but  most  of  the  people  in  the 
tenement  house  had  always  been  poor,  and 
had  learned  to  be  content  with  what  the 
day  brought  them,  so  they  were  not  hun- 
gry. Only  one  in  the  house  had  known 
the  luxury  of  being  very  rich,  and  she  was 
now  the  poorest  of  them  all. 

Just  under  the  roof  she  sat,  wearily 
stitching  upon  the  coarse  work  that  must 

5" 


106  FAIRY  TALES. 

"bring  bread  to  her  little  child.  How  the 
rain  pattered  and  clattered  upon  the  roof, 
as  the  daintily-bred  woman  bent  above  her 
unaccustomed  task,  thinking  over  the  old 
thoughts,  that  made  the  present  more  than 
desolate. 

"  It  was  not  so  once,"  said  the  rain. 
"  The  old  home,  how  comfortable  and 
beautiful  it  was !  There  you  were  a  fair 
lady  with  lily-white  hands ;  now,  you  are 
the  same,  only  one  can  not  think  so. 
There  are  silver  threads  in  your  hair,  and 
your  hands  are  too  red.  People  say : 
t  What  a  pity  the  woman  with  the  pretty 
child  is  so  poor ! '  but  they  do  not  help 
you." 

"  The  old  home  I  the  old  home  I"  echoed 
the  sad  thoughts  all  day  long  and  into  the 
still  hours  of  the  night. 

In  the  corner  of  the  room  sat  a  little 
child,  playing  with  a  doll,  made  of  an  old 


THE  DANCING  SUNBEAM.  1Q7 

apron ;  yet,  to  the  child  it  was  "  the  pretty 
Dolladine." 

She  was  very  "beautiful,  with  silken 
white  hair,  shimmered  over  with  a  golden 
luster.  A  little  garden  flower,  thrown  out 
by  chance  upon  the  common  wayside,  yet 
blossoming  in  her  own  s\veet  beauty,  in 
contrast  with  every  thing  around  her. 

She  was  a  real  princess  born,  and  her 
coarse,  ragged  clothes  could  make  no  dif- 
ference. 

The  work  was  finished,  and,  though  it 
was  raining  still,  the  mother  put  on  her 
worn  bonnet  to  take  it  home. 

"  If  the  sun  would  only  shine  again," 
she  sighed  heavily,  looking  down  into  the 
dismal  back  alley;  "  but  I  must  go." 

She  kissed  the  child,  saying,  "  Be 
good,  darling — mamma  will  not  be  gone 
long." 

"I  will  be  good,  mamma,"  she 


108  PAIRY  TALES. 

"  and  Dolladine  and  I  will  catch  the  sun- 
shine for  you." 

"  You  are  my  only  sunshine  now,"  said  the 
mother,  hastening  away  to  conceal  the  tears 
that  would  not  stay  in  their  hiding-place. 

Then  the  little  one  was  left  alone  in  the 
attic-room,  and  began,  as  she  often  did,  to 
talk  to  her  dolL 

"  Now,  Dolladine,"  she  said,  "  mamma  is 
very  sad,  and  sick,  I  fear,  and  you  and  I 
must  make  sunshine  for  her ;  but  how  shall 
we  do  it  ?  that  is  the  question. 

"  Don't  you  remember,  Dolladine/  one 
day  the  pretty  lady  said  my  hair  was 
beaming  sunshine?  We  must  shake  it  out 
for  poor  mamma — we  must  shake  it  out ;" 
and  the  little  girl  began  jumping  around 
the  room,  shaking  her  curls,  and  singing  : — 

"  We  will  make  the  bright  sunshine, 

Dolladine,  Dolladine ; 
Make  for  mamma  glad  sunshine, 
Dttlladine,  Dolladine." 


THE   DANCING  SUNBEAM.  1Q9 

Just  then  she  saw  the  sunbeams  dancing 
into  the  room.  The  rain  was  over,  and, 
on  the  roof  of  the  next  house,  a  washer- 
woman was  hanging  out  her  clothes,  which 
were  blowing  about  in  the  wind,  casting 
gleams  of  light  and  shadow  upon  the  little 
attic  window,  so  that  the  sunshine  went 
flitting  about  like  the  will-o'-the-wisp,  for 
the  shadow  was  always  chasing  it. 

The  child  was  delighted.  "  Do  you  see 
it,  Dolladine,"  she  said — "  the  glorious  sun- 
shine which  the  loving  God  gives  us  ?  Now, 
we  must  catch  it  for  mamma." 

She  took  the  doll  in  her  arms,  and  gave 
chase  to  the  dancing  phantom.  But  it  was 
no  use;  just  as  her  little  hand  was  ready 
to  grasp  it,  it  flew  away. 

"  You  don't  help  me  enough,  Dolladine," 
said  the  child,  her  little  eyes  filling  with 
tears. 

Just  then,  a  great  double-knock  came  at 


HO  FAIRY   TALES. 

the  door,  and,  before  she  could  answer  it, 
in  walked  a  little  old  man,  with  a  very 
wrinkled  face  and  lon^  white  beard  ;  a  bier 

o  /  o 

hat  almost  covered  his  face,  so  that  the 
upper  part  was  all  in  shadow. 

"  What  are  you  doing,  little  chick  T 
he  said,  pleasantly ;  "  and  where  is  the 
mother  T 

"  Mamma  has  gone  to  carry  home  the 
work,"  answered  the  child,  timidly ;  "  and 
Dolladine  and  I  have  been  making  sun- 
shine for  her.  But,  see !  it  flies  away  !"  and 
again  she  tried  to  catch  the  dancing  beams. 

"  It  often  does  from  older  and  wiser 
hands  than  yours ;  but  how  did  you  make 
it,  fairy  ?"  asked  the  old  man,  laughing. 

"  God  put  it  in  my  hair,  and  I  shook  it 
out  for  dear  mamma,  who  is  sick,  and  so 
tired  of  the  dark  days,"  replied  the  little 
one,  again  shaking  her  pretty  curls,  that 
were  luminous  with  beauty. 


THE  DANCING  SUNBEAM.  HI 

"  I  see  !"  said  the  old  man.  "  Now,  I  am 
a  great  magician,  and  can  help  you ;"  and 
he  sang,  with  a  clear,  ringing  voice : — 

"  Sunshine,  sunshine,  flitting  and  airy, 
Dwell  in  the  heart  of  the  little  fairy; 
Make  her  gentle,  loving,  and  mild, 
Make  her  the  mother's  sunshine  child." 

Just  at  that  moment  the  washerwoman 
took  down  a  big  sheet,  and  the  little  room 
was  flooded  with  warm,  glowing  sun- 
shine. 

"  Oh  !  it  is  glorious,  is  it  not,  Dolla- 
dine?"  exclaimed  the  child,  clapping  her 
hands,  and  dancing  about  with  pleasure. 
"  Mamma  will  be  so  happy,  and  so  will 
Dolladiiie  and  I." 

u  Remember,"  said  the  old  magician, 
"  that  all  good  comes  from  the  loving  God, 
who  has  blessed  you,  and  made  you  the 
sunshine  child.  You  can  make  the  mother 
and  every  one  very  happy,  so  long  as  you 


112  FAIRY   TALES. 

keep  God's  sunshine  in  your  heart ;  but  if 
you  forget  the  blessed  Christ,  it  will  fly 
away,  and  will  not  be  the  warm,  beautiful 
light  of  God's  love,  but  only  the  dancing 
sunshine  that  always  escapes  your  grasp. 
And  then,  how  sad !  you'  would  change 
to  the  little  stormy- weather  child,  which 
would  be  worse  than  the  darkest  winter's 
day  to  the  dear  mother." 

"  Oh !  no,  no !  I  will  never  forget  to 
bless  the  good  God.  It  is  so  delightful  to 
make  mamma  and  every  one  happy." 

"This  box,"  said  the  old  man,  "is  full 
of  sunshine ;  I  will  give  it  you  for  the 
mother." 

"  Let  me  kiss  you,  dear  magician,"  said 
the  child,  gently ;  "  I  always  love  anybody 
who  is  kind  to  poor  mamma." 

The  old  man  took  the  little  one  in 
his  arms,  and  kissed  her  fondly,  saying, 
"  God  bless  you,  darling ;  God  bless  you  !" 


THE  DANCING-  SUNBEAM.  U3 

Then  he  went  away,  to  be  her  life-long 
friend. 

"  I  am  so  happy,  I  can  not  keep  still, 
Dolladine,"  said  the  child ;  and  she  danced 
about  till  the  mother  came  in,  weary  and 
worn.  "  Oh !  mamma,"  said  she,  running 
up  and  kissing  her,  "  we  shall  always  be 
happy  now,  in  God's  glorious  sunshine, 
and  the  old  magician. gave  me  this  box, 
full  of  it,  for  you,  mamma." 

It  was  some  time  before  the  mother 
could  understand  all ;  but  when  she  open- 
ed the  box,  sure  enough,  it  was  full  of 
sunshine.  There  was  the  missing  deed, 
that  restored  to  her  her  own — the  dear  old 
home,  and  all  her  great  wealth. 

Again  she  became  the  fair  lady  with  the 
lily-white  hands  ;  but  her  greatest  joy  was 
in  the  warm,  genial  sunshine  her  good 
little  daughter  made.  From  a  child  she 
grew  up  to  be  a  loving,  beautiful,  and 


114  FAIRY  TALES. 

pure  woman.  Bat  she  never  forgot  the 
good  Grod,  and,  all  her  life,  remained  the 
mother's  sunshine  child. 


THE   YOUNG   GOLD-SEEKER. 

IN  the  olden  time,  between  the  Mission 
of  San  Gabriel  and  Los  Angeles,  lived  an 
old  Spaniard,  his  wife,  and  one  son. 

In  his  early  manhood,  Don  Pedro  had 
been  very  rich,  but  sickness  and  misfortune 
had  followed  him,  until,  in  his  old  age,  he 
was  destitute  of  many  of  the  comforts  of 
life. 

Sorrowful  and  dispirited,  he  looked  for- 
ward to  death  as  the  only  portal  of  hope 
for  future  repose. 

Francisco,  his  son,  was  full  of  youthful 
ambition  and  ardent  life. 

One  morning  he  went  to  the  bedside  of 
his  father  and  mother,  and  kneeling  down 
beside  them  begged  their  blessing. 


FAIRY  TALES. 

"  I  am  going,"  he  said,  "  dear  father  and 
mother,  to  retrieve  your  fallen  fortunes." 

The  father  blessed  him,  and  bade  him 
Godspeed,  but  the  mother  wept  and 
clasped  her  arms  about  him,  till  her  silver 
hair  mingled  with  the  glossy  black  of  his  ; 
and  when  he  tore  himself  regretfully  from 
her  embrace,  she  called  him  again  and 
again  to  return  for  one  more  kiss.  At  last, 
when  he  rushed  out,  and  was  nearly  gone 
from  her,  she  buried  her  head  in  the  bed- 
clothes and  sobbed  as  if  her  heart  would 
break. 

Francisco  was  at  first  greatly  saddened 
and  subdued  by  his  dear  mother's  grief;  but 
soon  with  the  fresh  morning  air,  the  elastic 
spirits  of  youth,  rose  joyous  and  hopeful, 
and  he  sung  merrily  as  he  wandered  on 
through  the  open  country. 

He  had  taken  with  him  some  tortillas 
(coarse  Indian-meal  cakes)  and  dried  beef. 


THE   YOUXG   GOLD-SEEKER.  H7 

When  he  was  hungry,  he  sat  down  in  the 
shade,  ate  sparingly  of  these  and  of  the  de- 
licious fruits  that  abound  through  all  the 
country,  and  drank  from  the  clear  spring. 

Thus  passed  the  first  few  days  of  his 
journeying ;  but  there  came  a  time,  when, 
out  in  the  desert,  his  food  became  exhausted, 
and  there  were  no  cooling  springs  bubbling 
up  from  the  yellow  heat  of  the  burning 
sand.  * 

There  were  no  trees,  no  fruit,  no  shade. 
He  wandered  on  for  two  days  and  nights, 
until  nature  was  almost  exhausted,  and 
when  the  third  night  came,  he  threw  him- 
self upon  the  sand  to  die. 

He  prayed  devoutly  to  the  Holy  Virgin 
to  intercede  for  his  soul,  and  grant  his 
fevered 'body  rest;  when,  as  he  turned  his 
head  wearily,  far  out  on  the  desert  gleamed 
a  light. 

Hope  rose  in  his  bosom,'  and  he  drew  his 


FAIRY   TALES. 

aching  limbs  onward,  till  nearer  and  nearer 
gleamed  the  blessed  light  from  a  cool  oasis 
in  the  desert.  Soon  his  foot  pressed  the 
soft  turf,  and  green  trees  waved  above  his 
head. 

The  blessed  Virgin  had  pitied  him  and 
listened  to  his  prayer.  He  was  saved. 

He  thought  the  waters  of  the  running 
stream  the  sweetest  music  he  had  ever 
heard,  and  bending  over,  with  his  hand  he 
raised  to  his  parched  lips  a  draught  of  holy 
water — for  'twas  the  Mother  of  Mercy's 
gift — the  gift  of  life. 

Extreme  thirst  is  the  most  intolerable 
of  all  sufferings — greater  far  than  hunger. 
None  but  those  who  have  endured  its 
pangs,  can  have  the  least  idea  of  the  ex- 
cruciating pain  it  brings. 

After  Francisco  had  drank  the  water,  he 
was  for  a  time  very  sick,  but  soon  was 
sufficiently  relieved  to  long  for  food  and 


THE   YOUNG  GOLD-SEEKER.  U9 

rest,  so  again  lie  looked  for  the  light  that 
had  guided  him  to  the  oasis. 

Just  before  him,  from  the  thicket  of  palm- 
trees  it  gleamed.     He  drew  near  cautiously, 
fearing  it  might  prove  the  encampment  of 
hostile  Indians. 

Softly  as  he  stepped,  the  quick  ear  of  an 
old  Indian  woman  detected  his  approach, 
and  she  raised  her  eyes  to  meet  his  eager 
and  hungry  gaze,  as  he  looked  longingly  at 
the  supper  she  was  preparing  over  the  fire 
just  outside  her  little  cane  hut. 

When  he  saw  that  he  was  discovered,  he 
went  up  to  her,  holding  out  his  hand,  and 
saying : — 

"  Good  mother,  I  am  very  hungry  and 
weary,  give  me  something  to  eat  and  let  me 
rest  here  to-night,  or  I  shall  die.  Oh, 
mother!  mother!" 

He  was  thinking  of  his  own  mother  at 
home ;  but  his  words  and  tones  sunk  into 


120  FAIRY  TALES. 

the  heart  of  the  old  Indian  woman,  and 
tears  gathered  in  her  dim  eyes  as  she 
placed  her  hand  softly  on  Francisco's 
shoulders. 

"You  call  me  mother,"  she  said,  in 
Spanish,  sadly,  "  those  who  used  to  call  me 
mother  are  all  dead  !  My  boy  would  have 
been  like  you.  My  brave  boy  !  my  timid 
girl,  gone !  all  gone  !" 

She  wept  bitterly  as  she  gave  Francisco 
the  choicest  morsels,  and  a  cool,  delicious 
drink,  that  was  a  balm  to  his  parched  and 
aching  throat. 

When  Francisco  had  eaten,  he  was  over- 
come with  fatigue  and  want  of  sleep,  but 
when  he  would  have  thrown  himself  down 
upon  a  mat  in  the  hut,  and  fallen  asleep 
immediately,  the  old  mother  caught  him  by 
the  arm,  exclaiming: — 

"  You  must  not  lie  down  there  to  sleep, 
you  would  never  wake  again  ;  for  when  the 


THE  YOUNG  GOLD-SEEKER. 

chief,  my  husband,  returns,  lie  would  kill 
you,  for  he  hates  the  Spaniards.  What  can 
I  do  with  you,  my  poor  boy  ?" 

"  I  can  go  no  farther,  mother,  I  shall  die 
of  fatigue  if  I  try  ;  think  of  the  two  days 
and  nights  I  passed  upon  the  desert,  with- 
out food,  drink  or  sleep."  And  he  threw 
himself  in  the  corner,  saying :  "  he  must  kill 
me  if  he  will,"  and  in  U  moment  was  fast 
asleep. 

The  old  woman  bent  over  and  kissed 
him,  weeping. 

"  He  called  me  mother,"  she  said,  "poor 
boy,  poor  boy." 

She  covered  him  over  with  cool  boughs, 
with  the  thick  green  leaves  still  fresh  upon 
them. 

How  long  he  slept  he  could  not  tell,  but 
while  it  was  yet  dark,  a  rough  voice  very 
near,  awoke  him. 

Opening  his  eyes  and  peering  through 


122  FAIRY   TALES. 

the  mass  of  foliage,  lie  saw  a  gigantic  In- 
dian, surrounded  by  half  a  dozen  younger 
men,  all  eating  what  appeared  to  be  an 
early  breakfast,  and  talking  over  some  adven- 
ture in  which  they  were  about  engaging. 

From  their  conversation  he  learned  that 
he  was  approaching  the  borders  of  the  rich 
Arizona  country ;  and  he  noticed,  when 
the  chief  put  up  his  ammunition  (he  was 
the  only  one  who  carried  a  gun),  that  the 
bullet  was  of  pure  gold. 

He  lay  for  some  time  motionless,  care- 
fully watching  their  movements.  At  one 
time  he  came  very  near  being  discovered. 

One  of  the  young  Indians  had  mislaid 
his  bow  and  arrow,  and  went  to  the  pile  of 
brush  to  look  for  it ;  but  the  old  woman, 
whose  mother's  heart  had  warmed  to  the 
1  perishing  yoi*ng  stranger,  drove  the  Indian 
boy  away,  with  a  sharp  reproof  for  his 
carelessness  in  disturbing  her  basket  of 


THE  YOUNG  GOLD-SEEKER.  123 

reeds,  which  were  mingled  with  the  con- 
cealing boughs. 

At  last  the  missing  bow  was  found,  and 
the  company  mounted  and  rode  away. 

Again  silence  fell  upon  the  palm-shaded 
hut. 

Still  weary,  Francisco  lay  quietly  watch- 
ing the  old  woman,  as  she  moved  about 
with  a  lighted  taper,  silently  putting  the 
things  to  rights ;  but  at  last  she  blew  out 
the  light,  and  lay  down  to  rest  upon  a  mat 
near  the  door,  and  in  the  darkness,  the 
green  oasis  of  the  desert  faded  into  the 
land  of  dreams. 

The  morning  sun  was  shining  clear  and 
bright,  through  the  waving  branches  of  the 
palm-trees,  when  Francisco  again  awoke. 

There  was  no  one  in  the  hut  when  he 
arose  and  went  to  the  spring,  where  the 
night  before  he  had  slaked  nis  thirst. 

Again  he  drank  from  its  pure  fountain, 


124:  FAIRY  TALES. 

bathing  his  face  and  neck  in  the  sparkling 
water,  till  he  felt  quite  refreshed. 

Above  his  head,  amid  the  glossy  leaves 
hung  the  rich  yellow  bananas. 

He  gathered  some  and  ate  them  as  he 
returned  to  the  hut,  with  a  hopeful,  happy 
heart. 

The  old  mother  met  him  at  the  door,  and 
greeted  him  pleasantly. 

They  sat  down  together  and  ate  their 
morning  meal.  Francisco  told  her  how  he 
had  left  home  to  seek  his  fortune,  and  of 
his  father  and  mother,  who  had  once  been 
very  rich,  and  had  become  poor,  and  in 
their  old  age  were  suffering  for  the  comforts 
of  life.  -How  he  had  vowed,  if  his  life  was 
spared,  that  they  should  enjoy  all  that 
money  and  love  could  provide  for  them. 
"  And  now,  mother,"  he  said, "  I  am  seeking 
gold,  and  gold  I  must  have,  if  my  life  pays 
the  forfeit." 


THE  YOUNG  GOLD-SEEKER.  125 

"  Were  it  not  that  the  chieftain,  my  hus- 
band, would  kill  you,  I  could  show  you 
where  gold  is  plenty  enough,"  said  the  old 
woman.  "  Only  one  day's  journey  from 
here  are  the  great  mines,  and  even  on  the 
ground  you  can  pick  up  quite  large  nuggets 
of  almost  pure  gold ;  but  every  hour  you 
stay  here  your  life  is  in  danger,  and  you 
must  live  to  be  happy. 

"  There  are  places  in  the  Arizona  country 
where  the  ground  is  yellow  with  gold. 
The  Indians  care  little  for  it,  but  you 
could  never  go  there  and  return  alive.  At 
every  step  your  way  would  be  beset  with 
a  more  deadly  foe  than  the  hunger  and 
thirst  of  the  desert. 

"Boy,  you  have  wakened  a  love  that  was 
dead  in  my  heart.  I  will  save  you  if 
possible,  and,  as  nearly  as  I  can  will  grant 
your  wishes." 

Then  the  old  woman  prepared  food  and 


126  FAIRY  TALES. 

water  for  a  journey,  and  taking  two  deer- 
skin bags,  she  filled  them  with  great  nug- 
gets of  pure  gold,  and  laid  across  the  back 
of  a  strong  mule,  as  much  as  he  could  carry, 
and  embracing  Francisco,  she  bade  him  take 
the  mule  and  recross  the  desert  with  all 
possible  dispatch. 

u  To-night  our  men  will  return,  and  you 
must  be  far  away." 

Then  she  gave  him  directions  about  the 
way.  "  By  to-night,  if  you  keep  the  trail, 
you  will  reach  green  trees  and  water.  G  o 
home  now,  be  rich  and  happy ;  but  some 
times  remember  the  lonely  Indian  mother 
far  away  in  Arizona." 

The  old  woman  embraced  him  again, 
weeping,  and  said :  "  All  who  call  me 
mother  must  go  from  me." 

Francisco  kissed  her  brown  cheek,  and 
went  out  from  under  the  shade  of  the  palm 
trees  into  the  arid  waste. 


THE  YOUNG   GOLD-SEEKER. 

Looking  back,  as  long  as  he  could  see 
over  the  desert,  in  the  distance  he  saw  the 
old  woman  watching  him.  She,  too,  had 
gone  out  from  the  shadow  of  the  palm- 
trees,  and  stood  upon  the  burning  sand, 
shading  her  tearful  eyes  with  her  wrinkled 
hand  from  the  blinding  sunshine. 

God  pity  the  childless  mother. 

Francisco  was  fortunate  in  keeping  the 
trail,  and  at  night  reached  the  trees  and 
water  the  old  woman  had  spoken  of,  but 
the  desert  was  still  before  him — a  long  and 
toilsome  journey. 

For  six  weary  days  he  traveled  through 
an  arid  sandy  waste,  finding  water  at  in- 
tervals ;  and  when  at  last  the  green  hills  of 
San  Gabriel  rose  before  him,  he  wept  like 
a  child  for  joy ;  but  he  soon  called  back 
his  manhood  and  laughed  at  his  weakness. 

With  a  full  happy  heart  he  journeyed 
on,  till  Los  Angeles,  dear  Los  Angeles,  the 


128  FAIRY  TALES. 

home  of  his  infancy,  lay  before  him.  There 
was  the  cottage  of  his  mother,  and  she  her- 
self standing  at  the  door.  He  had  returned 
after  all  his  hardships,  strong,  rich,  and 
happy.  Again  the  gray  hair  of  his  mother 
rested  on  his  shoulder,  but  this  time  she 
wept  tears  of  joy,  as  he  whispered  in  her 
ear:  "Mother,  dear!  you  and  father  can 
never  want  a^ain,  I  am  rich  now.  I  have 

o        / 

gold  enough  to  last  a  lifetime ;  and,  mother, 
you  shall  have  a  beautiful  home:  and  I 
will  ask  Juanita,  who  loves  you,  to  come 
and  be  your  daughter  and  nay  wife." 


THE    WISHING-CAP. 

THKOUGH  the  branclies  of  a  great  almond- 
tree  sported  the  golden  sunlight,  till  it  fell 
in  shining  flecks  upon  the  broad  verandas 
of  a  spacious  adobe  house.  Nothing  could 
be  pleasanter  than  this  homestead  in  the 
southern  Gold  Land,  with  the  great  garden 
around  it,  filled  with  all  kinds  of  tropical 
flowers  and  fruits  in  their  season.  Here 
dwelt  a  little  boy  and  girl,  whose  father 
and  mother  were  both  dead,  so  they,  poor 
children,  had  their  sorrows. 

After  the  mother  died,  the  father  had 
married  a  poor  widow,  who  had  two  chil- 
dren, about  the  age  of  his  own  little  ones. 

At  first,  while  the  comfort  of  the  new 

home  was  a  novelty  to  the  woman,  she 
6* 


130  FAIRY  TALES. 

had  been  kind  to  the  children ;  but,  as  the 
strangeness  wore  off,  she  began  to  feel  like 
the  real  mistress.  In  a  thousand  ways  she 
favored  her  own  children,  who  were  proud 
and  selfish;  and  in  all  their  childish  dif- 
ferences, only  the  motherless  ones  were 
punished. 

Then  the  father '  died,  and  the  step- 
mother became  like  a  great  shadow  be- 
tween them  and  the  bright  sunshine  of 
childhood.  She  would  have  sent  them 
away  from  home,  but  their  own  mother 
had  been  very  rich,  and,  after  the  father's 
death,  the  house  in  which  they  lived,  the 
vineyard,  and  the  large  herd  of  cattle  feed- 
ing upon  the  hills,  all  belonged  to  them. 

The  step-mother  was  very  angry  at  this, 
but  she  was  their  guardian,  so  she  managed 
every  thing  to  suit  herself,  and  lived  in 
great  ease  and  luxury. 

One  day,  as  the  children  were  playing 


THE  WISHING-CAP. 

in  the  garden,  the  step-mother's  son  threw 
his  ball  into  a  wild-rosebush  that  was  cov- 
ered with  thorns. 

"  Go  and  get  it  for  me,  Zoie,"  said  he, 
sharply,  to  the  little  girl. 

"  I  can  not,"  replied  the  child,  "  for  the 
thorns  will  tear  my  dress,  and  the  seiiora 
will  whip  me." 

"  How  dare  you  callc  my  mother  the 
seiiora  ?  It  is  not  from  respect,  but  because 
you  are  a  hateful  little  beast."  And  he 
struck  the  child  a  cruel  blow,  and  made 
her  go  for  the  ball. 

Her  dress  was  torn,  and  her  pretty  hands 
bleeding  when  she  recovered  it.  Just  then 
her  own  brother  came  up,  and  would  have 
fought  the  unkind  boy,  but  the  little  Zoie 
entreated,  weeping,  "  Dear  brother,  do  not 
strike  him.  Come  with  me,  while  I  say, 
6  Forgive  us  our  trespasses,  as  we  forgive 
those  who  trespass  against  us.' " 


132  FAIEY  TALES. 

The  heart  of  the  young  boy  swelled 
with  anger,  and  his  quickened  pulse  beat 
fearfully;  but,  because  he  loved  his  sister, 
he  suffered  her  to  lead  him  away,  for  well 
he  knew,  nothing  would  grieve  her  so 
much  as  his  returning  blow  for  blow. 

"  Oh !  to  be  a  man  !"  he  thought,  as  the 
hot  tears  filled  his  eyes.  "  Why  don't  the 
years  fly  fast  ?  How  long  must  I  wait,  be- 
fore I  can  take  care  of  my  little  sister  like 
a  man  ?" 

Already  the  manhood  was  dawning  in 
his  heart ;  and  if  he  could  have  protected 
the  dear  little  maiden,  he  would  have 
dared  any  thing* 

At  this  moment  the  garden  gate  opened, 
and  an  old  Indian  woman  came  up  the 
walk,  crying — "  Strawberries  !  fresh  and 
ripe,  red  and  bright.  Strawberries !  straw- 
berries !" 

All  the  children  ran  to  meet  her, .and 


THE  WISHIXG-CAR  133 

looked  so  eagerly  at  the  pretty  crimson 
fruit,  that  she  gave  to  each  of  them  a 
handful,  but  to  the  little  sister,  who  was 
so  modest  and  beautiful,  she  gave  a  small 
basket,  covered  with  green  leaves,  and  filled 
with  the  delicious  berries. 

When  the  other  children  would  have 
taken  the  basket  for  themselves,  the  old 
woman  prevented  them ;  and,  while  they 
went,  crying,  to  their  mother,  Zoie  hid  her 
treasure  under  the  trailing  vines  of  a  pas- 
sion-flower. 

"  Be  quick,  little  senorita,"  said  the  old 
Indian.  "  Your  mother  once  saved  the  life 
of  my  child,  and  an  Indian  never  forgets. 
In  the  basket  is  a  wonderful  talisman, 
which  will  give  you  any  thing  you  want, 
just  for  the  wishing." 

She  had  hardly  time  to  say  this,  when 
the  step-mother  came  out,  and  bought  all 
the  fruit  she  had  left. 


134:  FAIRY  TALES. 

The  senora  was  very  angry  with  the 
orphans,  and,  after  whipping  them  both 
for  quarreling,  sent  them  supperless  to 
bed,  in  an  old  out-house  where  the  Indian 
servants  slept,  but  she  and  her  children 
sat  down  to  a  luxurious  meal,  with  a  large 
basket  of  delicious  strawberries  in  the  cen- 
ter of  the  table,  plenty  of  nice  white  sugar, 
and  three  bowls  of  fresh,  rich  cream. 

For  some  time  the  lonely  orphans  lay 
talking  of  their  own  dear  parents,  and 
weeping,  as  they  lay  shivering  in  each 
other's  arms.  The  evening  was  coming  on, 
and,  though  the  days  were  very  warm, 
there  was  a  chill  in  the  damp  night  air, 
and  they  had  only  a  thin  sheet  to  cover 
them. 

At  last  the  brother  said  :  *'  Sister,  I  can 
not  endure  it.  If  they  would  only  whip 
me — but  to  see  them  strike  you !  I  can  not 
endure  it !  You,  whom  I  promised  the 


THE  WISHTKTG-CAP.  135 

£ 

dear  papa  to  love  and  protect.  We  have 
nothing  but  sorrow  here.  Let  us  go  out 
into  the  wide  world  alone.  It  will  not  be 
so  bad — at  least  we  shall  be  away  from 
the  senora,  who  gives  only  hard  crusts 
to  eat." 

"  Dear  brother,  let  us  go !  The  good 
God,  who  takes  care  of  the  pretty  birds, 
will  take  care  of  us.  But  first  bring  me 
my  blue  shawl,  for  it  was  the  last  thing 
the  dear  mamma  gave  me." 

Very  softly  the  boy  rose  and  went  for 
the  shawl,  but  the  old  Indian  cook,  who 
had  lived  in  the  family  before  he  was 
born,  and  loved  the  children  dearly,  saw 
him/ and  gave  him  some  tortillas. 

"The  old  wizzen  witch,  to  treat  the  real 
senora's  children  so !"  said  the  woman,  an- 
grily. "  She,  the  senora,  to  be  sure !  A 
cane  hut  in  the  chaparral  would  be  good 
enough  for  her." 


136  FAIRY  TALES. 

A 

"Good-bye,  mammie,"  said  the  boy,  throw- 
ing his  arms  around  the  old  Indian's  neck ; 
"  we  are  going  away  to  seek  our  fortune, 
and  when  I  am  a  man,  you  shall  live  with 
us.  But  do  not  follow  us  now,  or  she  will 
see  you.  We  are  running  away  from  the 
senora,"  he  whispered  softly. 

The  old  Indian  pressed  him  to  her  heart 
for  a  moment,  and  then  said,  "  Go  !  for 
nothing  in  the  wild  woods  will  hurt  you 
so  much  as  staying  here.  I  shall  go  to- 
morrow, but  I  must  wait  and  see  that  the 
old  witch  does  not  bring  you  back,  for  I 
believe  she  would  kill  you,  only  for  me." 

Then  the  boy  went  softly  out,  and  the 
old  Indian  covered  her  face  with  her  apron, 
and  thought  over  her  half  savage  thoughts, 
which  were  still  full  of  good  faith  and  love 
to  the  children  who  had  slept  in  her  bosom 
in  their  helpless  infancy. 

The    little    Zoie   was    waiting   for    her 


THE  WISHING-CAP.  137 

"brother  in  the  garden.  As  soon  as  she 
saw  him,  she  held  up  the  basket  of  straw- 
berries, saying,  "  This  is  all  we  have,  but, 
no  doubt  in  the  wide  world,  God  will  give 
us  all  we  need." 

The  young  boy  wrapped  the  shawl  about 
her,  and,  clasping  each  other's  hands,  they 
stole  out  of  the  garden  silently,  but,  when 
the  gate  had  closed  upon  them,  he  told  her 
how  the  old  cook  had  given  them  the 
tortillas. 

"  That  is  but  the  beginning  of  our  good 
fortune,"  answered  the  child. 

As  they  passed  the  Lake  of  the  Tuleis, 
the  moon  and  stars  were  shining  pleas- 
antly, casting  a  flood  of  soft  golden  light 
upon  the  graves  of  the  father  and  mother. 
Here  the  children  stopped  for  a  moment, 
and  the  little  maiden  laid  her  head  upon 
the  green  grave  of  the  mother,  crying — 
"  Oh,  mamma,  mamma  !  We  loved  you  so 


138  FAIRY  TALES. 

dearly,  and  are  so  lonely  now.  We  are 
going  out  into  the  wide  world  alone, 
mamma  !  dear,  sweet  mamma  !" 

She  buried  her  head  in  the  long  grass, 
and  there  would  have  wept  herself  to 
sleep,  as  she  had  often  done  before,  but 
the  brother  took  her  by  the  hand,  saying, 
"  We  must  hasten,  sister,  or  the  senora 
will  come  after  us." 

So  they  ran  on  as  fast  as  they  could, 
and  every  waving  shrub  or  tree  their  fear 
and  the  darkness  changed  into  the  form 
of  the  angry  step-mother. 

At  last  they  came  to  a  thick  wood,  and 
began  to  feel  quite  safe  as  they  entered  it. 
It  seemed  so  large,  and  so  far  out  into  the 
wide  world,  that  they  were  sure  the  step- 
mother could  never  find  them  there. 

The  gray  twilight  of  the  morning  was 
coming  on,  and,  as  they  were  very  tired 
and  hungry,  they  sat  down  under  the  trees 


THE  WISHINO-CAP.  139 

to  eat  their  tortillas  and  strawberries.  In 
the  bottom  of  the  basket  Zoie  found  a  nut, 
about  the  size  of  an  almond.  "  This  must 
be  the  talisman  that  makes  wishing  4  hav- 
ing/ "  said  the  little  girl. 

They  wished  all  sorts  of  things,  but 
nothing  came  to  them,  and  the  boy  said, 
"  It  is  a  poor  talisman — throw  it  away." 

"  No,  brother,"  answered  the  child ;  "  the 
old  woman  was  so  kind  to  me,  for  her  sake 
I  will  keep  it  always,  and  who  knows 
what  may  come  of  it  yet  ?" 

So  she  wrapped  it  in  a  leaf,  and  placed 
it  in  her  bosom.  Then  they*  said  their 
prayers,  and,  covering  themselves  with  the 
shawl,  they  slept  soundly  till  morning. 

When  they  awoke,  the  sun  was  shining 
through  the  leaves  of  a  rich  banana  tre*, 
and  the  ripe  golden  fruit  was  hanging  in 
thick  bunches  just  above  their  heads. 

"  See,  brother,"  said  the  little  o-irl,  "  the 


140  FAIRY  TALES. 

good  God  has  given  us  our  breakfast;" 
and  they  gathered  from  the  ground  as 
much  of  the  delicious  fruit  as  they 
wished. 

"  I  am  so  thirsty,"  said  the  brother. 

"  I  hear  something  that  sounds  like  run- 
ning water,"  replied  Zoie. 

So  they  looked  around,  until  they  found 
a  brook,  with  a  clear  spring  of  water  bul>- 
bling  up  in  the  midst  of  the  shining 
stones. 

"  I  thank  the  good  God  for  this  pure, 
clear  water,"  said  the  little  girl,  drinking 
with  much  pleasure,  for  she,  too,  was  be- 
ginning to  be  very  thirsty. 

"  We  must  go  now,"  said  the  boy. 

They  each  took  as  many  bananas  as 
they  could  carry,  and  started  to  go,  they 
knew  not  whither. 

They  were  light-hearted  and  happy  in 
all  their  morning  wanderings,  but  by  noon 


THE  WISHING-CAP. 

they  began  to  feel  tired,  hungry,  and 
thirsty. 

"  I  am  sorry  we  left  the  beautiful  shady 
banana  tree  and  the  brook.  It  is  so  hot, 
and  I  am  very  thirsty,"  said  the  boy, 
sadly.  So  they  both  looked  for  water,  but 
could  find  none. 

"  God  will  give  us  some  by  and  by," 
said  the  little  sister.  "  Let  us  sit  down 
and  eat  our  dinner." 

They  ate  their  bananas  with  sad  hearts, 
and  the  wide  world  seemed  very  desolate. 
All  around  them  the  grass  was  withered, 
and  the  trees  and  shrubs  were  dying  for 
want 'of  water. 

Though  they  were  so  much  fatigued,  and 
it  was  veiy  warm,  they  were  too  thirsty  to 
think  of  rest,  and  all  the  afternoon  they 
wandered  about  looking  for  water  and 
finding  none. 

By  and  by  the  twilight  came  on,  then 


14:2  FAIRY  TALES. 

the  stars  and  the  great  golden  moon  shone 
upon  the  pale  face  of  the  children,  glistening 
with  tears. 

"What  shall  we  do,  sister/'  said  the 
boy,  weeping,  and  falling  upon  the  ground 
in  despair ;  "  we  shall  die,  we  can  not  be 
buried  by  the  Lake  of  the  Tuleis,  with  the 
dear  papa  and  mamma." 

"Do  not  cry,  brother,"  said  the  little  Zoie, 
her  own  eyes  filling  with  tears.  "I  am 
sure  God  will  help  us,  and  if  he  lets  us  die 
here,  he  will  send  the  birds  to  cover  us 
with  leaves,  as  they  did  the  poor  little  '  chil- 
dren in  the  woods.' " 

She  put  her  arms  around  her  brother's 
neck,  and  kissed  him,  saying  again,  "Do 
not  cry,  dear,  God  will  help  us,  he  is  our 
*  Father  who  art  in  heaven.' ' 

So  they  started  again,  and  very  soon 
they  saw  a  tiny  light  shining  through  the 
trees,  and  as  they  ran  forward  it  grew 


THE  WISHING-CAP.  143 

brighter,  and  clearer,  and  they  heard  a 
very  pleasant  sound,  the  rushing  of  waters. 

Taking  heart  again,  they  urged  their 
little  weary  feet  forward,  till  they  came  to 
a  mill,  and  the  clear  light  shone  from  the 
comfortable  room,  in  which  sat  the  weary 
miller,  by  a  glowing  fire,  while  his  young 
son  prepared  the  supper. 

They  knocked  timidly  at  the  door,  and 
a  rough  kind  voice  said,  "Come  in." 

They  entered,  and  saw  the  miller  sitting 
by  the  fire,  and  his  handsome  young  son 
spreading  the  table. 

The  old  man  spoke  to  them,  but  they 
could  not  understand  him,  for  he  spoke  in 
English,  and  they  were  Spanish  children ; 
but  the  boy  said,  in  the  soft  Spanish  tongue, 
"My  friends,  who  are  you?  and  where  did 
you  come  from?" 

The  little  girl  answered,  "  We  are  poor 
children,  whose  papa  and  mamma  are  dead, 


144  FAIRY  TALES. 

and  God  takes  care  of  us.  We  are  very 
hungry  and  thirsty,  and  he  showed  us  the 
light  shining  from  your  window,  so  we  are 
here !" 

Then  the  boy  gave  them  milk  to  drink, 
and  put  two  more  plates  on  the  table,  while 
he  told  the  father  what  the  children  said. 

"  Bless  her  innocent  heart,"  said  the  old 
man,  "  God's  little  ones  are  welcome." 

He  took  the  child  in  his  arms,  and  she 
nestled  her  head  down  in  his  rough  neck, 
and  whispered,  "  I  love  you,  you  seem  like 
the  dear  papa." 

A  tear  came  into  the  old  man's  eye,  he 
only  understood  the  word  papa,  but  there 
was  affection  in  the  little  arms  that  twined 
around  his  neck,  and  he  kissed  her,  and 
said  again,  "  Bless  her  little  heart." 

Her  winning  ways  touched  his  affec- 
tionate nature,  they  made  him  think  of  a 
lonely  grave,  and  his  own  lost  darling. 


THE  WISHING-CAP. 

Meanwhile  tlie  boys  talked  pleasantly 
till  supper  was  ready,  then  they  sat  down 
together  to  a  bountiful  table,  and  the 
hungry  children  ate  heartily,  and  drank 
the  pure  sweet  milk,  which  after  their  long 
thirst  seemed  delicious. 

After  supper  they  went  to  sleep  on  a 
nice  deer-skin,  spread  upon  the  floor,  but 
some  how  that  night  tfre  old  man  could 
not  sleep. 

He  got  up  two  or  three  times  to  look  at  the 
children,  with  the  tears  standing  in  his  eyes. 

He  was  living  over  the  past.  "  Bless 
her  little  heart,"  he  said,  smoothing  with 
his  rough  hand  the  soft  wavy  hair  of  the 
little  girl. 

In  the  morning  the  children  woke  much 
refreshed.  At  first  they  did  not  know 
where  they  were,  but  they  saw  the  face  of 
the  old  man  turned  kindly  toward  them, 

and  remembered  all. 
7 


146  FAIRY  TALES, 

At  breakfast  the  brother  told  their  story 
to  the  boy?  and  he  interpreted  it  to  the 
father. 

"  They  shall  stay  with  us,"  said  the  old 
man,  with  great  satisfaction,  for  he  had 
dreaded  parting  with  jthe  child  that  had 
so  won  his  love. 

After  breakfast  they  went  into  the  mill, 
and  the  handsome  boy  told  the  orphans 
his  story,  in  return. 

"Some  years  ago,"  he  said,  "my  father 
and  mother  came  to  this  country,  bringing 
my  little  sister  and  myself. 

"Mother  and  sister  died  very  soon  after 
we  arrived,  and  father  and  I  have  lived 
here  alone  for  many  years. 

"You  can't  tell  how  lonely  it  was  at 
first,"  he  continued,  "and  how  I  used  to 
cry  myself  to  sleep,  and  poor  father  was 
very  sad.  I  am  so  glad  you  are  going  to 
stay  with  us." 


THE   WISHISG-CAP. 

"  God  sent  us,"  said  the  little  girl,  smil- 
ing. And  the  children  were  very  content- 
ed and  happy  together. 

Thus  they  lived  for  many  years  at  the 
old  mill. 

The  little  Zoie  grew  to  be  a  beautiful 
maiden,  as  good  as  fair. 

To  the  old  father  she  was  a  great  bless- 
ing, making  his  hotne  always  neat  and 
pleasant. 

The  two  boys  were  handsome,  strong 
young  men,  full  of  energy  and  life.  Every 
day  they  roamed  over  the  mountains,  pros- 
pecting for  gold.  The  old  mill  was  falling 
to  decay,  and  promised  but  little  in  the 
future. 

One  evening,  when  they  had  returned 
after  a  hard  day's  work,  weary  and  out  of 
heart,  they  sat  down  on  the  stone  steps  of 
the  old  mill  to  rest  themselves.  The  wa- 
ters were  flowing  on  with  their  usual  plea- 


148  FAIRY  TALES. 

sant  music,  and  they  were  thinking  and 
hoping  for  the  future.  When  the  house- 
hold work  was  done  Zoie  came  out  and  sat 
by  them.  To  amuse  them  she  told  over 
the  old  story  of  the  strawberries  and 
the  talisman  that  should  make  "wishing 
having." 

"Let  me  see  the  nut,"  said  the  miller's 
son,  and  Zoie  gave  it  to  him. 

Placing  it  upon  the  stone  door-step,  he 
pressed  his  heel  upon  it,  and  the  shell 
burst  open,  showing  a  silken  cap  of  bright 
crimson,  trimmed  with  cord,  and  tassal  of 
gold. 

They  were  all  greatly  surprised,  and 
the  miller's  sou  placed  it  upon  Zoie's  shin- 
ing hair. 

"  How  pretty  it  is,"  said  she.  "  I  wish  I 
had  a  rose-bush  filled  with  roses  of  the 
same  color." 

She  had  hardly  spoken,  before  a  rose- 


THE  WISHING-CAP.  149 

bush,  covered  with  beautiful  crimson  flow- 
ers, sprang  up  at  their  feet. 

Then  they  knew  that  the  pretty  silken 
toy  was  a  wonderful  wish  ing-cap,  and  that 
any  thing  they  might  desire,  could  be  had 
for  the  wishing. 

In  the  morning,  when  the  young  men 
went  out,  Zoie  put  on  the  cap,  and  wished 
they  might  find  a  mine  of  great  richness. 

"  Though  we  could  now  live  without  the 
trouble  of  working,"  she  said  to  the  father, 
"  a  rich  mine  would  help  hundreds  of  poor 
people,  who  would  find  employment  in  it. 
So  it  would  be  a  real  blessing." 

While  they  sat  talking,  the  brother 
rushed  in,  bringing  a  great  nugget  of  gold, 
telling  how  at  last,  they  had  found  a  mine 
of  fabulous  richness. 

Thus,  they  had  every  thing  they  desired, 
till  one  day,  the  miller's  son  put  on  the 
cap,  and  told  Zoie,  that  above  every  thing 


150  FAIRY  TALES. 

in  the  world,  lie  wished  that  she  might 
love  him,  and  consent  to  be  his  wife. 

The  young  maiden  blushed,  and  begged 
for  the  cap.  "  It  was  not  quite  fair,"  she  said, 
"  in  wishing  that !"  So  they  talked,  as 
young  people  will,  but  it  ended  in  her 
placing  her  hand  in  his,  and  promising  to 
be  his  bride. 

"  And  this,"  as  the  father  said, "  was  the 
best  wish  of  all." 

The  brother  was  greatly  pleased,  and 
said,  "  Zoie  shall  be  married  in  the  old 
home."  So  they  all  went  together  to  the 
pleasant  adobe  house  from  which  they  had 
fled  so  long  ago. 

The  step-mother  was  greatly  surprised 
so  see  them.  She  had  so  often  reported 
them  dead,  that  she  really  began  to  believe 
it  herself. 

She  was  obliged  to  give  up  every- 
thing to  the  true  heirs.  Thus  she  and  her 


THE  WISHISG-CAP. 


children  became  very  poor  again.  Though 
the  brothers  and  sisters  gave  her  a  comfort- 
able house,  and  provided  for  her,  she  was 
very  ungrateful. 

She  was  a  disappointed  woman,  unhappy 
herself,  and  making  others  so  around  her. 

It  was  a  glorious  day  when  the  young 
people  were  married,  and  Zoie  in  her  snow- 

white  robes  and  rich  lace  vail,  was  as  fair 

• 
a  bride  as  the  sun  could  shine  upon. 

All  the  old  friends  of  the  family  were  in- 
vited to  the  wedding  feast,  and  the  old 
servants  taken  home  again. 

Every  one  was  rejoiced  to  see  the  orphans 
enjoying  their  own  —  but  of  them  all  —  no 
one  was  so  happy  as  the  old  miller,  and 
when  he  kissed  the  bride  after  ths  cere- 
mony, he  whispered,  "  bless  your  little  heart, 
I  could  not  live  without  my  child."  The 
young  bride  looked  into  his  face,  with  beam- 
ing eyes,  and  answered  only  "  my  father." 


152  FAIRY  TALES. 

Thus  they  were  all  happy,  and,  through 
the  changing  scenes  of  life,  the  goodness 
and  faith  of  the  wife  and  mother,  never 
failed.  Like  the  little  maid,  Zoie,  in  the 
dark  night,  she  trusted,  and  God  always 
took  care  of  them. 


CRIMSON  TUFT. 

IN  the  early  days,  many  strange  things 
happened.  It  was  the  mystical  age  of 
romance  in  the  Gold  Land,  and  people 

seemed  to  live  years  in  months,  or    even 

• 

weeks.  Thus  a  great  deal  has  been  for- 
gotten. 

In  the  old  countries  it  was  not  so,  and  it 
may  be  that  some  are  living  even  now  at 
"  dear  Bingen  on  the  Rhine,"  who  remem- 
ber tenderly  the  handsome  young  couple 
who  left  their  home  to  seek  the  alluring 
treasures  of  the  Gold  Land  in  "  the  early 
days." 

They  were  honest  peasants  in  the  Father 
land,  but  over  the  waters  had  floated  the 

marvelous  story,  how,  in  the  glorious  El 

7* 


154:  FAIRY  TALES. 

Dorado,  any  one  miglit  become  a  lord  of  the 
soil  or  a  rich  miner  prince. 

This  it  was  that  fired  the  heart  of  the 
father;  and  as  the  mother  looked  upon 
their  boy,  she  too  was  ready  to  go  out  into 
the  great  world,  though  her  heart  lay  fond- 
ly to  the  beloved  Fatherland. 

They  had  little  money,  but  the  thrifty 
good-man  managed  to  work  for  one  and 
another  on  the  passage,  till,  when  he  arrived 
at  the  young  city  of  tents  within  the  Gold- 
en Gate,  he  had  cash  enough  to  make  a  be- 
ginning in  life. 

They  were  soon  domesticated  in  a  little 
shanty,  and  in  a  short  time  had  prepared  a 
fine  garden,  which  became  the  good-man's 
pride.  Every  morning  dame  Waltenburger 
went  to  the  market,  where  she  had  a  stall, 
and  sold  fruit  and  vegetables  for  gold  dust, 
for  that  was  the  currency  of  the  country  in 
"  the  early  days." 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  155 

The  little  son  was  ten  years  old,  and  a 
real  delight  to  the  mother's  heart. 

He  was  well  formed,  with  fine  features, 
golden  brown  hair,  and  wonderfully  ex- 
pressive eyes.  When  he  was  calm  and 
happy  they  were  of  a  soft  looming  blue,  but 
if  excited  or  angry,  they  grew  dark  and 
fierce,  flashing  like  balls  of  fire 

It  pleased  him  above  all  things,  to  assist 
the  dear  mother  at  the  market,  and  very  soon 
he  displayed  great  taste  in  the  arrangements 
of  the  fruits  and  vegetables. 

With  maternal  pride,  the  mother  often 
told  the  neighbors  "it  would  be  impossible 
to  do  without  Paul,"  for  really  he  was  the 
greatest  help  to  her. 

When  the  flowers  were  in  blossom,  the 
boy  always  made,  them  into  bouquets  and 
garlands,  while  his  pretty  ways  brought 
many  a  purchaser. 

Sometimes  he  used  to  carry  home  parcels 


156  FAIRY  TALES. 

for  ladies  .who  had  made  large  purchaser, 
and  very  often  he  received  presents  from 
them.  With  the  regular  customers  the 
handsome  little  fellow  was  a  great  favorite. 

One  day,  as  Paul  and  the  mother  sat  in 
the  stall  together,  talking  of  the  dear  Father- 
land so  far  away,  they  saw  a  very  queer-look- 
ing Spanish  woman  approaching.  She 
seemed  bowed  down  with  age  and  infirmi- 
ties, and  leaned  heavily  upon  her  staff  as  she 
hobbled  along  with  the  greatest  difficulty. 

After  the  Spanish  fashion  her  head  was 
covered  with  a  shawl,  from  which  peered 
her  thin  sharp  face,  quite  furrowed  with 
wrinkles.  Her  bleared  eyes  were  red,  and 
her  long  hooked  nose  nearly  met  her  point- 
ed chin.  Altogether  she  was  very  un- 
pleasant in  her  appearance. 

All  the  time  she  kept  her  toothless  mouth 
moving  as  she  mumbled  indistinctly  to  her- 
self. 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  157 

She  came  directly  up  to  dame  Walten- 
burger's  stall,  and  entering  it,  threw  her- 
self down  upon  the  bench,  exclaiming: 
"This  is  what  comes  of  growing  old,  nothing 
but  weariness,  care,  and  aching  of  bones/ 
and  she  began  rubbing  her  knees  and 
muttering  to  herself. 

Little  Paul  stood  looking  at  her,  his  eyes 
dilated  with  wonder,  and  the  compassion 
of  his  heart  made  them  blue  as  the  cloud- 
less sky. 

"Ah!"  exclaimed  the  old  woman,  look- 
ing into  his  innocent  face  with  a  hideous 
grimace,  "  what  are  you  staring  at,  with 
your  great  round  owl-eyes  ?  Do  you  think  it 
is  a  fine  thing  to  be  old,  and  lame,  and  poor  ? 
You  will  have  to  come  to  it.  Ah  !  yes,  there 
is  a^  comfort  in  that. 

u  Old  Father  Time  will  take  care  of  you. 
Yes !  yes !  yes  !"  And  she  shook  her  long 
bony  fingers,  and  chuckled  in  such  a  horrible 


158  FAIRY  TALES. 

way,  that  the  child  retreated  behind  the 
mother's  chair,  and  hid  his  face  upon  her 
protecting  shoulder. 

"  Go  quickly,  boy,  and  bring  me  some 
fresh  water,'1  said  the  old  woman,  "  I  am 
very  thirsty,"  she  added,  looking  at  the 
mother. 

Little  Paul  took  a  glass  and  ran  away  to 
the  well  and  drew  a  bucket  of  water,  so 
clear  and  sparkling  that  it  glistened  in  the 
sunlight  like  the  dew  of  the  morning. 

As  he  carried  it  along,  he  thought  how 
the  professor  had  told  him  of  shining  nectar 
that  Hebe  used  to  bear  in  the  golden  cup 
to  Jupiter  and  all  the  gods  of  Olympus. 

"  That  was  in  the  olden  time,"  he  said, 
"  but  no  nectar  could  be  more  beautiful  and 
pure  than  the  water  the  loving  God  in 
heaven  gives  to  us  all." 

Offering  it  to  the  old  woman,  his  open 
rosy  face  beaming  with  smiles,  he  said  "  it 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  159 

is  nectar  fit  for  the  gods,  and  I  am  your  cup- 
bearer." 

Then  he  bowed  so  prettily  that  the 
mother  laughed,  saying,  "  did  one  ever  see 
such  a  child  ?  oh  !  you  mischief,  and  she 
shook  her  fingers  in  the  cunning  old  way 
that  all  mothers  do." 

The  old  woman  took  the  glass,  but 
managed  to  spill  half  its  contents  over  the 
child's  clean  clothes,  then  she  chuckled  with 
delight  at  his  discomfiture,  saying  "  see 
what  it  is  to  be  old,  my  little  cup-bearer." 

While  the  mother  wiped  off  the  water 
with  her  handkerchief  the  woman  began 
picking  over  the  vegetables  and  fruit  with 
her  thin  hooked  fingers,  and  smelling  every 
bouquet  of  flowers,  till  little  Paul's  eyes 
grew  dark  and  flashed  like  living  flames. 

"  Just  see  her,  mother,"  he  whispered, 
"who  will  buy  them  after  she  has  handled 
every  thing  with  her  dirty  hands,  and  snuffed 


160  FAIRY  TALES. 

all  the  sweetness  and  beauty  out  of  the 
flowers  with  her  ugly,  crooked  nose  ?'' 

"Oh,  you  little  viper,"  cried  the  old 
woman,  springing  forward,  "I'll  teach  you 
to  mock  at  old  age." 

Paul  was  too  quick  for  her,  and  had  it 
not  been  for  the  mother  she  would  have 
fallen,  in  her  eagerness  to  catch  him. 

"  Never  mind  the  child,  my  good  woman," 
said  dame'  Waltenburger,  gently,  "  we  were 
all  children  once,  now  how  can  I  serve  you  ?*' 

"  To  be  sure !  we  were  all  children  once. 
Ah!  me! 

"  Oh,  no  !  I  don't  mind  the  child,  my  little 
cup-bearer,"  and  the  old  woman  drew  her 
wizen  face  into  a  hundred  wrinkles,  and 
began  selecting  a  large  quantity  of  fruits, 
vegetables  and  herbs,  far  more  than  she 
'  could  carry. 

"Is  it  far  you  have  to  go?"  said  the 
mother. 


Crimson  Tuft. 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  161 

"  No,  no !  not  far,"  replied  the  wo- 
man. 

So  the  mother  called  Paul  to  help  her. 
He  was  very  reluctant  to  go ;  but,  when 
the  mother  ktssed  him,-  and  promised  to 
make  him  a  beautiful  ball,  and  cover  it 
with  red  morocco,  he  came  forward  and 
took  the  basket  readily. 

"And  I,"  said  the  old  .woman,  "will  give 
him  a  beautiful  crimson  tuft;  he  will  be 
gay  as  a  lark,  my  little  cup-bearer." 

This  seemed  delightful  to  Paul,  and  he 
followed  after  the  old  woman,  thinking — 
"  I  can  play  soldier  with  the  crimson  tuft, 
and  the  professor  in  the  next  house  will 
hear  me,  and  call  me  Charlemagne.  It  will 
be  glorious  to  be  the  soldier  with  the  crim- 
son tuft." 

Little  Paul  walked  on  in  quite  a  lordly 
way,  with  his  great  martial  thoughts  echo- 
ing in  all  the  chambers  of  his  boyish  heart, 


162  FAIEY  TALES. 

"  It  will  be  glorious — the  soldier  of  the 
crimson  tuft!" 

On,  on  they  went,  far  out  into  the  sand 
hills,  in  an  opposite  direction  from  his  own 
home. 

Paul's  arm  began  to  ache  very  much, 
carrying  the  heavy  basket,  but  he  was 
feeling  so  manly,  that  he  did  not  like  to 
complain ;  but  at  last  he  became  so  tired, 
that  it  was  no  use — he  could  not  bear  it 
any  longer,  and  great  tears  filled  his  eyes 
and  covered  his  rosy  cheeks. 

All  the  way  the  old  woman  had  been 
muttering  to  herself  in  Spanish,  but  Paul 
could  not  understand  that. 

"  I  am  so  tired,"  he  said,  resting  the 
basket  upon  the  ground. 

"  Oh,  it  is  not  far !  not  far !  and  I  will 
give  you  the  bright  crimson  tuft — think 
of  that,"  replied  the  old  woman. 

So  Paul  took  up  the  basket,  and  again 


CRIMSON   TUFT.  163 

they  went  on  a  long,  long  way,  and  turned 
so  many  corners,  he  feared  he  could  never 
find  his  way  back,  but  still  the  thought  of 
the  crimson  tuft  allured  him. 

u  I  must  have  it,"  he  said ;  "  that  would 
be  a  real  pleasure." 

At  last,  when  he  was  just  ready  to  fall 
down  with  fatigue,  they  came  to  a  great 
iron-barred  gate,  and  the  old  woman  rung 
the  bell  very  loudly. 

In  a  moment  a  great  rough  voice  called, 
in  Spanish,  as  through  a  trumpet,  "  Who 
rings  at  the  gate  ?" 

Very  soon  the  gate  was  opened  by  a 
curious-looking  dwarf,  who  started  and 
grinned  fearfully  when  he  saw  Paul. 

The  child  offered  him  the  basket,  but  he 
only  shook  his  head,  pointing  after  the  old 
woman,  who  gave  him  her  staff,  and  walked 
along  with  as  much  ease  as  little  Paul 
himself. 


FAIRY  TALES. 

Now  the  child  was  really  frightened, 
and  would  have  run  away,  but  he  was 
already  within,  the  gate,  and,  with  a  great 
clang,  it  closed.  The  dwarf  put  up  the 
iron  bars,  and  replaced  the  bolts.  Nothing 
could  be  more  secure,  for  all  around  rose 
an  immense  high  fence,  topped  with  sharp 
spikes.  It  was  impossible  to  escape — no 
one  could  get  in  or  out. 

A  long  avenue  led  to  a  pleasant-looking 
liouse,  built  in  the  Spanish  fashion.  It 
was  shaded  with  beautiful  trees,  that  had 
been  brought  from  the  southern  country. 
How  they  waved  their  long  fan-like  leaves 
in  the  sunshine !  It  was  a  picture  en- 
graven upon  the  child's  mind  never  to  be 
effaced. 

Under  the  shadow  of  the  trees  walked 
the  old  woman  toward  the  house,  and  Paul 
followed  with  the  basket,  trembling  like 
the  light  leaves  of  the  tamarind.  Just 


CRIXI30N  TUFT.  165 

behind  him  came  the  dwarf.  He  could 
hear  his  heavy  tread. 

"  It  is  no  use  !  no  use  !"  thought  the 
child  ;  but  he  would  gladly  have  given 
the  tempting  crimson  tuft,  the  red  morocco 
ball,  all,  all  his  pretty  treasures,  to  have 
been  once  more  by  the  mother's  side,  sell- 
ing vegetables  in  the  market. 

They  entered  a  large,  pleasant  drawing- 

• 

room,  with  doors  opening  upon  the  front 
piazza  and  upon  the  verandah  of  the  inner 
court,  so  that,  though  it  was  very  warm,  a 
delicious  breeze  swept  through  the  room, 
and  made  it  delightfully  cool. 

The  old  woman  threw  herself  upon  a 
couch,  and,  pointing  to  a  silver  bell,  told 
Paul  to  ring  it,  adding,  "  My  little  cup- 
bearer, you  must  be  tired,  and  I  will  order 
something  to  refresh  you  before  you  return 
to  your  good  mother."  * 

"  I  am   not   so  very  tired,"  said  Paul ; 


166  FAIRY  TALES. 

"  let  me  go — the  mother  will  need  me ;" 
and  he  looked  imploringly  into  the  pitiless 
face  that  he  was  beginning  to  fear  above 
all  things. 

"King  the  bell,  boy,"  was  the  only 
answer. 

So  he  rang  the  bell,  and  the  dwarf, 
who  had  left  them  on  the  piazza,  en- 
tered. 

The  woman  addressed  him  in  Spanish, 
which  Paul  did  not  understand,  but,  as  he 
went  to  and  from  a  large  closet,  and  began 
spreading  the  table,  he  would  turn  his 
curious  squinting  eyes  upon  the  child  with 
looks  of  compassion. 

In  a  short  time  all  was  ready ;  and  what 
a  delicious  lunch  it  might  have  been  to 
the  child,  but  for  the  great  fear  that  over- 
shadowed him !  Delicate  cakes  and  confec- 
tions, cold  chicken,  eggs,  and  all  kinds  of 
fruits  that  children  are  so  fond  of,  with 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  167 

many  nice-looking  things  that  Paul  had 
never  seen  before. 

There  was  a  great  pyramid  of  ice-cream. 
"  How  I  should  like  to  eat  it  with  the  dear 
mother !"  thought  Paul. 

Oh !  that  was  a  delicious  lunch,  to  be 
sure  ! 

"  Come,  let  us  sit  down,"  said  the  old 
woman. 

"  I  am  not  hungry,"  answered  Paul,  tim- 
idly ;  for  he  longed  so  greatly  to  be '  at 
home,  that  even  these  unaccustomed  deli- 
cacies, and  the  promised  crimson  tuft,  were 
as  nothing  compared  with  the  sweet  com- 
fort at  the  dear  mother's  side. 

"  You  silly  child  !  You  have  walked  all 
this  distance,  carrying  that  great  basket, 
and  are  not  hungry  ?  Well,  you  are  thirsty, 
and  for  your  nectar  of  the  gods,  I  will  re- 
turn you  the  sherbet  of  an  eastern  prince." 

The  woman  filled  a  glass  with  a  clerr*, 


163  FAIRY  TALES. 

rosy  liquid,  that  bubbled  up  and  sparkled 
so  temptingly,  that  little  Paul,  who  was 
quite  overcome  with  fatigue  and  thirst, 
grasped  it  eagerly,  and  did  not  take  the 
glass  from  his  lips  till  he  had  drained  it  to 
the  bottom. 

Then  he  wished  to  start  for  home,  but 
he  felt  so  drowsy  that  he  could  not  move. 
He  .  thought  of  the  mother,  but  felt  no 
emotion,  and  looked  at  the  hideous  old 
woman,  who  was  grinning  horribly,  with- 
out fear.  In  a  few  moments  he  suuk  down 
upon  the  couch,  in  a  heavy  sleep. 

The  woman  stood  over  him,  chuckling  in 
great  glee.  "I  have  you  now,  my  pretty 
cup-bearer,  and  will  make  you  of  great  use 
to  me.  I  will  .teach  you  a  thousand  things 
you  would  be  glad  not  to  know !  You 
shall  have  a  crimson  tuft,  ha !  ha !  ha ! 
I  will  teach  you  to  be  impertinent  to  mu  ! 
My  hooked  nose !  to  be  sure.  .  Ah  !  I  am 


CRIMSON  TUFT. 

old !  old !  and  nothing  can  make  me  young 
and  fair.  If  I  could  only  take  for  myself 
your  young  beauty !  But,  no  !  one  day  I 
must  die,  and  that  will  be  the  end." 

The  woman's  face  grew  convulsed — for 
she  was  haunted  by  the  grim  specter,  Death, 
as  with  a  dread  terror.  Her  life  had 
been  so  filled  with  darkness,  that  she  could 
not  look  forward  to  the  calm  hereafter. 
All  the  brightness  and  beauty  of  heaven, 
the  golden,  was  like  the  fleeting  dreams 
of  childhood,  that  the  rolling  years,  bear- 
ing her  to  the  portals  of  dim  old  age,  had 
swept  away. 

She  had  studied  magic,  and  tried  to  find 
the  elixir  of  life,  but  in  vain.  She  had 
discovered  many  wonderful  things,  but  not 
the  fountain  of  perpetual  youth,  nor  the 
precious  elixir  of  life. 

For  a  few  moments  she  stood  gazing  at 
the  fresh  face  and  rich  curls  of  the  child, 


170  FAIRY  TALES. 

as  he  lay  sleeping  in  his  pure  innocence. 
Once  the  word  "  mother"  passed  his  rosy 
lips,  and  the  woman  waved  a  perfumed 
fan  over  him,  till  even  the  mother  was  no 
longer  the  companion  of  his  dreamless 
sleep. 

"  Now,  it  will  do  to  begin,"  said  the  old 
woman,  and  she  took  from  a  secret  drawer 
in  the  closet  several  bottles  containing 
liquids,  and  placed  them  on  a  little  table. 
Taking  a  pair  of  sharp  scissors,  she  sat 
down  by  the  child,  and  cut  off  all  his 
beautiful  brown  curls,  leaving  only  a  little 
tuft.  This  she  made  quite  stiff  in  some 
way,  and  colored  it  bright  red,  tying  it 
upon  the  top  of  his  head,  so  that  it  stood 
up  and  looked  very  strangely. 

"  There  is  the  crimson  tuft,  my  little 
cup-bearer,"  she  said,  laughing  heartily  at 
her  wicked  work. 

Then  she  tinged  his  eyebrows  red,  and 


CRIMSON  TUFT. 

his  skin  a  dark  mahogany  color,  until,  in- 
stead of  the  beautiful  little  Paul  that  every- 
body had  loved  and  admired,  he  appeared 
the  ugliest  little  wretch  one  could  well 
imagine. 

She  took  off  his  neat,  plain  clothes, 
dressing  him  in  yellow  leather  breeches 
and  a  fantastic  red  jacket.  Upon  his  feet 
she  put  shoes  with  long  pointed  toes,  that 
turned  up  and  were  tied  with  red  ribbons. 
When  she  had  finished,  she  looked  at  him 
with  great  satisfaction. 

"Even  the  old  dame  herself  would  not 

^ 

know  her  cub  now.  What  an  ugly  little 
goat  he  has  become,  to  be  sure !"  And  the 
old  woman,  after  her  usual  way,  muttered 
to  herself. 

At  last  she  sat  down,  and,  eating  and 
drinking,  for,  by  this  time,  she  was  quite 
hungry,  every  fe\$  moments  she  would 
stop  and  rub  her  long  bony  hands  to- 


172  PAIRY  TALES. 

gether,  and  laugh,  as   she  looked   at  the 
transformed  child. 

Paul  slept  all  the  afternoon,  and  awoke 
in  the  dusky  shadow  of  the  twilight,  con- 
fused and  bewildered,  to  find  himself  in  a 
strange  room  with  the  horrible  woman, 
sitting  before  a  blazing  fire,  gazing  steadily 
into  its  fantastic  pictures. 

At  first  he  could  not  tell  where  he  was, 
but  in  a  moment  he  remembered  all  and 
jumped  up  in  the  greatest  excitement,  say- 
ing, "  How  could  I  have  slept,  when  the 
dear  mother  \vas  expecting  me  I  She  will 
be  so  anxious.  Oh,  let  me  go  to  her ! 
Please,  good  lady,  let  me  go!" 

"  What  do  you  mean,"  answered  the  old 
woman.  "  You  have  no  mother  !  you  are 
my  little  servant,  Crimson  Tuft.  I  gave 
you  that  name,  myself,  on  account  of  your 
red  hair,  which  stands  *up  like  a  crest  on 
the  top  of  your  ugly  head." 


CRIMSON    TUFT.  173 

Then  the  child  began  to  cry,  saying, 
"  My  hair  is  not  red,  and  my  name  is  Paul, 
and  it  was  my  dear  mother  who  sold-  you 
vegetables  at  the  market  this  morning. 
Let  me  go  home,  oh  !  please  let  me  go  home 
to  the  dear  mother." 

The  child's  voice  was  broken  with  sobs, 
but  the  hard-hearted  woman  only  laughed, 
"  Ha !  ha !  it  is  a  curious  dream  you  have 
had,  or  are  you  going  crazy  ?  your  hair  not 
red  !  indeed !  why,  look  in  the  glass  your- 
self." 

She  led  him  to  a  mirror,  an^d  there  the 
unhappy  child  saw  reflected  the  ugly 
wretch  called  Crimson  Tuft,  but  never 
again  the  handsome  little  Paul. 

The  child  was  more  frightened  and  be- 
wildered than  ever.  He  was  sure  he  had 
left  the  mother  that  morning,  in  company 
with  this  horrible  old  woman.  Every 
thing  in  the  rude  little  home  rose  in  his 


174:  FAIRY  TALES. 

mind,  yet  lie  could  not  realize  his  own 
identity.  Paul  surely  he  could  not  see  in 
the  reflecting  mirror,  only*  the  ugly  little 
Crimson  Tuft. 

He  raised  his  hands  and  took  hold  of 
the  stiff  shock  of  red  hair  that  stood  up- 
light  upon  his  head.  Oh,  no !  it  was  not 
Paul's  soft  silken  curls. 

Yet  there  was  a  look  about  the  eyes 
that  reminded  him  of  Paul,  but  even 
they  were  very  different:  they  were  the 
red,  swollen,  terror-strained  eyes  of  Crimson 
Tuft. 

"Are  you  satisfied  now,"  said  the  old  wo- 
man. "It  was  only  a  dream,  a  queer  dream 
that  you  have  had,  Crimson  Tuft,  and  how 
funny  that  you  should  think  you  were  an 
old  vegetable-woman's  child.  You,  my 
servant,  who  have  never  been  out  of  this 
place  in  your  life." 

Still  the  child  only  cried  the  more,  and 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  175 

entreated,  "  Let  me  go  home  to  the  mother, 
let  me  go  home." 

Though  he  was  faint  from  the  effects  of 
the  narcotic,  and  from  fasting  for  a  long 
time,  he  refused  food,  and  continued  to  sob, 
begging  the  old  woman  to  let  him  go  home, 
but  she  only  answered,  "you  are  dreaming 
still,  or  crazy."  Then  she  told  him  how 
sometimes  people  were  bewitched,  and  did 
not  know  themselves. 

"  Still,  I  am  Paul,  let  me  go."  At  last 
the  woman,  losing  all  patience,  called  the 
dwarf  to  beat  him,  if  he  did  not  stop  cry- 
ing and  begin  to  eat.  So  terror  and  hun- 
ger at  last  conquered,  and  the  little  boy, 
choking  down  his  sobs,  sat  upon  a  stool  in 
silence,  to  eat  his  supper,  very  desolate  and 
leaden  hearted. 

From  that  day  a  new  era  commenced 
in  the  history  of  the  child.  An  era  of 
servitude,  sorrow,  ana  tears,  that  washed 


176  FAIRY  TALES. 

away  so  far  into  the  past  the  memory 
of  his  free  and  joyous  childhood,  that 
he  began  to  believe  what  the  woman 
so  often  told  him,  that  his  mind  had 
gone  astray,  that  he  had  been  be- 
witched. 

Sometimes  he  would  stand  looking  long 
into  the  great  mirror,  at  the  stiff,  red  hairs 
and  brown  skin  of  poor  Crimson  Tuft, 
thinking  what  a  beautiful  myth  it  was, 
about  the  happy  little  Paul,  and  the  dear 
mother.  How  it  had  stolen  into  his  heart 
like  a  real  life,  and  still  the  senora,  as  all 
about  the  house  called  her,  said  it  was 
only  a  bewildering  dream. 

Into  his  eyes  he  would  often  look,  say- 
ing, "Those  are  Paul's  eyes,  but  the  red 
brows  give  a  different  expression  to  their 
sadness,"  he  would  add,  "  No !  no  !  they 
are  not  Paul's  eyes." 

Always  the  red  hair,  brown  skin  and  sor- 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  177 

rowful  heart,  "I  must  be  only  poor  Crim- 
son Tuft." 

Very  often  his  hungry  heart  would  cry 
out,  "  Oh,  mother !  mother  !" 

Too  often  the  shrill  voice  of  the  old 
woman  would  be  the  discordant  answer, 
sending  him  to  some  new  task. 

As  months,  then  years,  rolled  by,  the 
child  became  more  accustomed  to  his  sor- 
rowful lot,  and  in  many  ways  it  grew  pleas- 
anter.  He  learned  to  talk  Spanish  flu- 
ently, and  became  very  fond  of  the  queer 
looking  dwarf,  who  had  frightened  him  so 
much  at  first.  He  often  talked  to  him 
about  his  mysterious  change,  but  of  these 
things  the  dwarf  would  never  speak,  so  at 
last  Crimson  Tuft  ceased  to  mention 
them. 

His  kind-hearted  friend  taught  him 
many  things  in  leisure  hours — to  read, 
write,  and  solve  difficult  problems — so  that 

8* 


178  FAIRY   TALES. 

at  twelve,  lie  was  as  much  advanced  in  his 
studies  as  most  boys  of  his  age. 

With  the  senora  he  had  become  quite  a 
favorite,  although  at  first,  for  a  long  time, 
he  had  only  menial  service  to  perform, 
there  came  a  change.  One  day  she  heard 
him  reading  aloud  to  the  dwarf,  and  was 
so  much  delighted  with  his  distinct  enun- 
ciation, and  fine  rendition  of  what  hap- 
pened to  be  a  favorite  author,  that  she 
called  him  to  her  private  library,  and 
talked  a  long  time  in  a  way  she  had  never 
before  addressed  him. 

"  He  is  a  boy  of  quick  mind,"  thought  she, 
"  and  may  be  more  than  an  ordinary  servant 
to  me.  He  is  just  what  I  shall  need  in 
my  troublesome  Mexican  affairs.  I  must 
train  him  to  his  work." 

From  that  day  he  used  to  sit  hours  in  the 
library  reading  to  her,  and  often  she  gave 
him  long  papers  to  copy,  which  he  was 


CRIMSON  TUFT. 

soon  able  to  do,  to  her  entire  satisfac- 
tion. 

Very  often  she  would  talk  to  him  as 
though  he  were  a  man,  in  fact  the  training 
he  was  receiving  brought  only  the  man's 
thoughts.  He  had  left  his  happy  boyhood 
at  the  little  stall  in  the  market-place. 

One  day  he  found  an  old  guitar  in  the 
attic  of  an  out-house,  which  was  filled  with 
broken  furniture,  and  many  things  disused 
and  forgotten.  From  that  hour  he  enjoyed 
a  real  pleasure.  In  a  short  time  he  picked 
out  the  chords  and  wove  them  into  deli- 
cious harmonies,  and  then  there  came  into 
his  mind  a  rich  old  melody  of  the  father- 
land. It  was  like  the  memory  of  a  happy 
dream,  and  the  .tears  filled  his  eyes.  Again 
he  was  happy,  for  every  thing  save  the 
spell  of  the  divine  melody  was  forgotten. 

Two  more  years  glided  by,  and  the 
young  boy  was  advancing  toward  man- 


180  FAIRY  TALES. 

hood.  He  was  tall,  and  finely  developed ; 
and  deep  within  his  dreamy  eyes  slept  the 
wonderful  magnetic  charm.  Still  the 
brown  skin  and  stiff  hair  remained,  and  he 
was  only  poor  ugly  Crimson  Tuft. 

In  all  this  time  he  had  never  been  out- 
side the  massive  gate  which  was  always 
strongly  locked  and  barred  ;  and  though  he 
had  often  entreated  the  dwarf,  the  only 
reply  was  a  grave  shake  of  the  head,  and 
a  sad,  compassionate  look,  from  the  odd 
squinting  eyes  of  his  companion,  and  if  he 
persisted  the  dwarf  would  go  away  and 
leave  him  alone. 

He  had  never  ventured  to  speak  to  the 
Senora  but  once,  on  the  subject,  in  years, 
and  then  her  fury  was  so  unbounded,  that 
he  feared  she  would  tear  him  in  pieces  with 
her  long  bony  fingers,  which,  when  she  was 
enraged,  possessed  the  power  of  a  vice. 
For  a  week  after,  she  fed  him  on  bread  and 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  181 

water,  and  kept  him  confined  in  a  dark 
room  with  too  heavy  tasks  to  allow  him 
to  question  the  mysterious  past,  or  specu 
late  on  the  uncertain  future. 

"  Always  a  foolish  dreamer,"  she  said.  "  I 
will  teach  you  something,  you,  the  brown- 
skinned  Crimson  Tuft." 

Yet  it  was  all  no  use :  the  boy  had  his 
thoughts,  that  could  not  be  chained.  He 
was  determined  to  escape. 

"  I  will  not  excite  suspicion ;  I  will  strive 
to  please ;  and  a  time  will  come,  yes,  the 
time  will  come,  when  I  shall  know  all." 

Thus  in  striving  to  lull  the  suspicions  of 
the  Argus-eyed  woman  to  sleep,  he  grew 
into  great  favor,  and  became  indispensable 
to  her. 

"  He  can  do  so  many  things  that  no  one 
else  can  do,"  she  would  say  to  herself,  "  but 
those  great  luminous  eyes  torment  me.  If 
they  too  could  be  changed.  But  that  is 


182  FAIRY  TALES. 

beyond  my  power.  Would  I  could  make 
them  dull  leaden,  and  red  as  bis  flaming 
crimson  tuft.  He  is  useful,  very  useful, 
"but  there  are  times,  with  all  his  quiet  seem- 
ing, when  I  think  he  suspects  me.  Dare  I 
trust  him  ?  that  is  the  question." 

Here  the  old  woman  would  fall  into  long 
fits  of  musing,  and  gaze  into  the  glowing 
embers,  till  they  faded  into  dead  ashes. 

One  morning  the  old  woman  called  Crim- 
son Tuft  to  her,  saying :  "  I  am  going  away, 
to  be  gone  for  some  days,  and  I  want  you  to 
copy  these  papers  for  me.  They  are  the 
deeds  and  other  valuable  papers  of  my 
property  in  Mexico,  which  you  will  see  is 
very  great.  Let  the  copies  be  made  with 
great  distinctness,  for  these  duplicates  may 
be  required.  You  see  I  am  cautious,  and 
trust  you  very  much,  very  much." 

A  look  of  suspicion  crossed  her  sharp 
wizen  face ;  but  in  the  ugly  brown  conn  ten- 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  188 

ance  she  could  detect  nothing  but  truth 
and  sincerity. 

"  I  can  do  no  better,"  she  thought,  but 
aloud  she  added,  "  the  dwarf  knows  all  and 

•% 

will  see  to  the  safety  of  these  and  every 
thing.  If  one  of  them  is  lost  it  would  bring 
no  end  of  trouble,  and  you  would  have 
your  share."  With  an  ominous  shake  of  the 
head,  the  old  senora  rose  and  left  Crimson 
Tuft  bending  over  the  yellowed  parchment, 
that  was  of  the  most  inestimable  value  to 
her. 

About  noon  she  left  the  house,  with  the 
dwarf  following  her  to  the  gate,  which, 
when  she  had  passed  he  barred  more  se- 
curely than  ever. 

For  some  days  Crimson  Tuft  worked  dili- 
gently over  the  papers.  There  were  deeds 
of  haciendas  and  mines,  mortgages,  and 
grants  of  land,  and  many  long,  intricate 
pages  of  law  papers.  Really  to  copy  all 


184  FAIRY  TAXES. 

these  was  a  task,  and  Crimson  Tuft  was 
filled  with  amazement  at  the  greatness  of 
the  old  senora's  possessions. 

At  last  they  were  all  finished,  and  locked 
up  by  the  dwarf  in  the  iron-bound  oaken 
chest,  and  that  again  was  locked  in  the 
great  closet,  and  the  dwarf  carried  the  key. 
So  it  was  very  secure. 

Still  the  old  senora  did  not  return ! 
"  Now  the  time  has  come,"  thought  Crim- 
son Tuft,  "  I  must  escape."  But  that  was 
easier  planned  than  done.  Everywhere  the 
dwarf  followed  him,  and  when  Crimson 
Tuft  grew  angry  he  laid  his  heavy  hand 
upon  his  arm,  saying,  "from  the  first  I 
have  loved  you,  boy, — believe  me  it  will  all 
be  well — only  wait  a  little  longer." 

Then  Crimson  Tuft  took  his  hard,  honest 
hand,  saying,  "  you  alone  have  loved  me, 
and  for  your  sake  I  will  wait,  but  not  long, 
I  can  not — do  not  ask  it." 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  135 

One  evening,  about  a  week  after  this,  the 
bell  rang,  and  the  senora  entered,  followed 
by  a  most  beautiful  little  maiden  about 
twelve  years  of  age. 

She  was  dressed  in  mourning,  with  a 
black  shawl  about  her  head ;  her  long 
glossy  hair  hung  carelessly  over  her  grace- 
ful shoulders ;  her  complexion  was  a  clear 
olive,  and  her  skin  soft  and  smooth  as  satin  ; 
while  her  large,  dark  eyes  had  a  depth  as 
of  the  mystic  sea,  and  a  pure  clear  look  as 
of  heaven. 

They  were  more  beautiful  than  any  thing 
Crimson  Tuft  had  ever  seen,  and  some  how 
they  startled  him.  It  was  not  like  the  old 
vision,  yet  it  touched  him  more  deeply — 
this  was  of  the  present — that  of  the  past. 

"This  is  my  only  granddaughter,"  said 
the  old  woman  to  the  dwarf  and  Crimson 
Tuft.  Both  bowed  very  low  to  the  pretty 
.senorita.  They  were  such  a  queer-looking 


186  FAIRY  TALES. 

pair,  that  she  clapped  her  dainty  little 
hands  together  laughing  in  a  pure  ring 
ing  tone,  clear  as  the  notes  of  a  silver 
bell. 

Poor  Crimson  Tuft  was  very  much  con- 
fused, for  to  him  the  young  Donna  Leota 
was  the  first  dream  of  beauty  that  had 
kindled  the  dawning  fire  of  manhood  in  his 
heart,  and  he  was  ready  to  bow  down  and 
kiss  her  foot-prints  in  the  sand. 

Strange  to  say,  the  little  Leota  swayed 
the  grandmother  as  absolutely  as  she  had 
ruled  the  dwarf  and  Crimson  Tuft,  but  in 
one  respect  the  old  woman  was  resolute, 
the  heavy  gate  was  locked  as  securely  upon 
Leota  as  upon  the  other  inmates  of  the 
mansion,  and  no  persuasion  could  induce 
her  to  change  in  this  regard. 

Leota  was  passionately  fond  of  music, 
and  played  the  harp  very  sweetly. 

Once  in  the  still  hours  of  night,  she  was 


CRIMSON  TUPT.  187 

awakened  by  the  notes  of  her  own  harp 
vibrating  in  the  most  exquisite  harmony. 

She  was  filled  with  delight  though  she 
trembled  with  fear,  for  she  was  quite  sure 
there  was  no  one  in  the  house  who  knew 
any  thing  of  music  but  herself,  yet  the 
chords  were  swept  as  by  a  master's  hand. 

She  lay  motionless  until  the  last  note 
died  away,  and  it  was  long  before  she 
fell  asleep,  for  the  spell  of  the  rich  melodies 
still  floated  through  the  air  around  her. 
In  the  morning  she  spoke  of  it,  but  no  one 
could  explain  the  mystery.  Again  and 
again,  in  the  silent  hours  came  the  rich 
melody,  not  old  familiar  airs,  but  the  ex- 
quisite improvisations  of  genius. 

One  night,  when  the  golden  moon  was 
casting  its  soft  amber  light  over  land  and 
sea,  and  the  enchanted  harp  sending  forth 
its  entrancing  strains,  Leota  rose  softly 
from  her  couch,  and  summoning  all  her 


188  FAIRY  TALES. 

courage,  determined  herself  to  solve  the 
mystery.  She  glided  quietly  along  the 
passage-way  to  the  large  glass  door  of  the 
parlor,  and  there  she  saw  Crimson  Tuft 
bending  fondly  over  the  harp,  and  calling 
out  the  bewildering  melody  that  she  had 
thought  could  be  born  only  of  mystical 
enchantment.  The  imagination  of  the 
young  girl  was  so  vivid  that  she  was  easily 
prepared  for  things  supernatural,  but  to 
see  poor  brown  Crimson  Tuft,  the  great 
magician,  he,  the  slave,  of  whom  she  thought 
only  to  laugh  at — this  was  stranger  than 
all. 

The  soft  moonlight  fell  full  upon  his 
face,  and  his  large  luminous  eyes  were 
dewy  with  the  spirit  of  the  rich  melody. 
With  the  rare  beauty  that  was  all  their 
own,  they  almost  redeemed  the  brown  skin 
and  flaming  hair  from  positive  ugliness. 
Leota  stood  entranced  till  the  Jast  note 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  189 

died  out  of  the  thrilled  chords  of  the 
trembling  harp,  then,  as  she  turned  to  go, 
the  rustling  of  her  robe  caused  Crimson 
Tuft  to  raise  his  eyes,  and  they  fell  full 
upon  her  face,  to  him  at  least  the  most 
beautiful  face  in  the  world.  He  was 
covered  with  deep  confusion.  Over  his 
redeeming  eyes  fell  the  heavy  red  lashes, 
and  the  ugly  brows  contracted. 

She,  his  rare  divinity,  had  seen  him  play, 
and  heard  how  the  notes  flowed  from  his 
own  heart,  through  the  sympathizing 
harp-strings  that  thrilled  with  his  devo- 
tion to  her,  which  would  last  all  his  life 
long. 

Leota  was  greatly  bewildered,  and  as 
she  stole  away  to  her  own  room,  strange 
thoughts  chased  themselves  through  her 
mind.  Not  one  word  had  been  spoken, 
but  every  thing  had  changed.  Crimson 
Tuft  was  no  longer  only  the  ugly  servant 


190  FAIRY   TALES. 

of  her  grandmother,  but  he  was  Crimson 
.  Tuft  of  the  mystery. 

There  was  something  interesting  in  that ; 
"besides,  shut  up  in  those  high  walls,  with 
only  the  old  grandmother  for  company, 
and  little  amusement,  one  must  think  a 
great  deal.  So  Leota  had  her  thoughts. 
Crimson  Tuft  had  wonderful  eyes.  She 
had  found  that  out,  and  it  was  a  great 
deal  there  in  that  dull  place. 

She  wished  to  be  in  Mexico  again,  where 
the  most  beautiful  flowers  bloom,  and  the 
delicious  fruit  grows  ripe  on  the  broad- 
leafed  trees.  Yet  she  did  not  like  to  think 
she  would  never  see  the  beautiful  eyes 
again.  "  But  one  must  not  think  too 
much  of  a  servant,"  she  would  say  to  her- 
self. "She  was  of  good  blood,,  and  that 
would  not  do,  yet  one  must  treat  inferiors 
kindly."  Really  it  was  difficult  to  tell 
what  one  must  do.  So,  all  in  a  maze,  she 


CRIMSON   TUFT. 

fell  asleep,  and  dreamed  of  the  most  radiant 
eyes,  which  icere  Crimson  Tuft's,  and  the 
handsomest  face,  which  surely  was  not 
Crimson  Tuft's. 

The  morning  dawned  clear  and  bright, 
as  Crimson  Tuft  arose  and  began  the  du- 
ties of  the  day.  Though  he  was  ad- 
vanced to  the  post  of  private  secretary, 
the  old  senora  had  left  him  some  tasks  in 
the  early  part  of  the  day  that  would  pre- 
vent him  from  forgetting  his  position  as  a 
servant. 

First  he  swept  and  dusted  the  parlor 
and  halls.  This  had  always  been  his  work, 
and  no  one  else  could  please  the  senora  so 
well.  As  he  dusted  the  senorita's  harp  a 
flash  of  indignation  filled  his  heart.  He 
was  only  a  servant,  the  ugly  Crimson  Tuft, 
and  she  the  most  beautiful  .maiden,  the 
divinity  of  his  soul.  There  was  a  great 
difference,  yet  he  felt  himself  a  man,  and 


192  FAIRY   TALES. 

he  would  conquer  fate  in  tlie  end,  even 
with  his  ugly  Crimson  Tuft.  This  was 
what  he  thought. 

When  Leota  appeared  she  said  nothing 
of  her  discovery,  but  when  she  spoke  to 
him  it  was  in  a  different  tone  from  for- 
merly. The  mystery  of  the  enchanted  harp 
was  over,  but  the  greater  mystery  had 
begun. 

The  wonderful  eyes  acted  as  a  talis. 
man  upon  her  heart,  and  though  she  strove 
against  it,  she  found  herself  forgetting 
Crimson  Tuft's  position,  his  ugly  brown 
skin  and  red  hair. 

One  glance  of  his  beaming  eyes  would 

set  her  warm  blood  dancing  through  her 

*  veins  till  her  neck  and  brow  were  a  soft 

rose-tint,  and  this  was  in  no  way  pleasant 

1  to  the  proud  little  maiden. 

The  next  night  Crimson  Tuft  did  not 
touch  the  harp,  and  in  the  morning  the 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  193 

* 

Donna  Leota  passed  him  at  his  work  with  a 
haughty  toss  of  her  dainty  head,  but  with  a 
quiver  in  her  voice  she  said,  "  Crimson  Tuft, 
play  when  you  like,  the  music  pleases  me." 

After  that  Crimson  Tuft  would  always 
play  at  twilight,  and  even  the  old  grand- 
mother was  touched  by  the  magical  spell  of 
his  genius. 

Every  year  the  old  woman  grew  more 
infirm,  till  she  could  not  even  walk  from 
room  to  room  without  leaning  upon  her 
staff.  At  times  her  temper  was  terrible, 
and  nothing  but  the  soft  touch  of  Leota's 
hand  could  calm  her.  She  loved  with  all 
her  strong  hard  nature  the  young  maiden 
who  daily  was  growing  to  womanhood 
crowned  with  surpassing  beauty. 

She  was  getting  very  old.  With  an 
iron  will  she  resisted  the  pitiless  hand  of 
time,  but  she  could  not  stay  it.  Her  long 

hands  became  more  bony  and  angular,  her 
9 


194  FAIRY  TALES. 

eyes  more  red  and  bleared,  and  her  voice 
more  cracked  and  shrill ;  yet  she  seemed  tc 
be  looking  forward  to  a  lon<^  life,  and  was 

o  o 

more  hard  and  grasping  than  ever.  It  was 
only  Leota  that  she  loved  more  than  gold. 
One  night  Crimson  Tuft  had  a  curious 
dream.  He  thought,  as  he  lay  half  sleep- 
ing and  half  waking,  dreaming  delightful 
but  impossible  things,  that  the  old  woman 
came  in  softly  and  poured  something  upon 
his  head,  and  that  when  he  started,  she 
held  a  sponge  to  his  nose,  until  he  sank 
back  powerless.  He  seemed  to  inhale 
something  sweet  and  fragrant.  It  was 
very  pleasant  and  soothing :  that  was  all 
he  could  remember.  In  the  morning,  he 
felt  heavy  and  drowsy,  his  head  ached,  but 
he  roused  himself,  rose  and  dressed  as 
usual.  When  he  looked  in  the  glass  he 
saw  that  his  hair  was  redder,  and  his  skin 
a  deeper  brown  than  ever.  Memories 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  195 

and  a  strange  suspicion  flashed  over  his 
mind. 

Far  back  in  the  years  he  remembered 
dimly  a  little  boy,  named  Paul,  a  fair  child, 
whom  he  had  been  taught  to  believe  a 
dream.  There  was  a  mystery.  Could  she 
have  changed  Paul  to  Crimson  Tuft  in  a 
night  ? 

After  this,  Crimson  Tuft  became  more 
thoughtful  than  ever.  There  was  a  mys- 
tery to  solve,  and  he  would  devote  all  his 
energies  to  it.  He  was  eighteen  years  old, 
a  very  intelligent  young  man,  but  entirely 
unacquainted  with  the  world.  He  had  yet 
much  to  learn. 

One  day  the  old  woman  called  him  to 
her,  and  looked,  in  her  curious  way,  at 
him  for  a  long  time.  "  Crimson  Tuft,"  she 
said,  "  you  are  my  servant,  but  I  have 
given  you  great  advantages,  so  that  you 
are  as  well  educated  as  many  a  rich  man's 


196  FAIRY  TALES. 

son.  But  that  is  not  all ;  I  wish  to  make 
your  fortune." 

Then  the  old  woman  fell  into  a  deep 
study,  and  Crimson  Tuft  stood  waiting 
and  wondering  what  would  come  next. 

At  length  he  grew  tired.  "  Senora,"  he 
said,  "  you  wanted  to  speak  with  me." 

She  gave  a  sudden  start  as  he  spoke. 
"  Oh !  yes,"  she  replied,  "  but  I  had  forgot- 
ten you.  You  are  my  servant,  and  have 
been  so  always." 

"  Always  ?"  asked  Crimson  Tuft. 

A  dark  frown  passed  over  the  old  wom- 
an's face,  and  Crimson  Tuft  regretted  his 
folly.  He  was  very  anxious  to  hear  what 
she  had  to  say  to  him.  There  might  be 
some  hope  of  relief.  But  again  she  was 
silent ;  and,  worse  than  all,  she  seemed 
displeased. 

The  Donna  Leota  passed  the  open  win- 
dow, singing  lightly  a  pretty  Spanish  air, 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  197 

and  the  shadows  began  to  clear  away  from 
the  clouded  brow. 

"  Excuse  me,  senora,"  said  Crimson  Tuft, 
softly.  "If  in  some  way  I  can  serve  you,  I 
shall  be  only  too  Lappy."  He,  too,  had 
heard  the  soothing  song. 

"  Crimson  Tuft,"  she  replied,  u  I  am  not 
now  so  strong  as  I  was  twenty  good  years 
ago,  and  I  want  some,  one  near  me  whom 
I  can  trust,  for  I  have  affairs  that  must  be 
attended  to  now — some  one  who  will  not 
cheat  me  out  of  my  gold.  I  have  looked 
carefully  about,  and  can  see  no  one  but 
you — you,  whom  I  have  trained,  educated, 
and  cared  for  so  many  years.  The  world  is 
so  ungrateful  and  wicked  !  Even  you,  who 
owe  every  thing  to  me,  might  rob  me— 
me,  an  old  woman.  It  would  be  a  wicked 
thing — a  great  crime  !" 

The  red,  eager  eyes  of  the  old  woman 
were  fastened  upon  the  face  of  the  young 


193  FAIRY  TALES. 

man,  and  with  all  her  shrewdness  she  tried 
to  read  him.  Her  pinched  features  grew 
sharper,  and  her  voice  shrill  as  the  whist- 
ling wind.  She  grasped  her  staff,  and 
hobbled  across  the  room  several  times,  in 
an  excited  manner. 

"  You  are  such  a  curious,  ugly  fellow. 
What  have  you  to  hope  for  in  the  world, 
save  from  me  ?  But,  if  you  are  faithful,  I 
will  advance  you.  But  I  can  as  easily 
punish  as  reward." 

The  red  blood  flushed  even  the  brown  , 
cheek  of  the   boy,  for   he   was   painfully 
conscious  of  his  extreme  ugliness,  and  he 
thought  sadly  of  the  Donna  Leota. 

"  Listen,  boy,"  continued  the  old  woman. 
"  There  is  a  great  world  beyond  these 
walls.  Can  I  trust  you  to  go  away  over 
the  waters  with  me  ?  Remember  all  I 
promise  you,  and  be  faithful." 

She  looked  steadfastly  into  the  luminous 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  199 

eyes  of  Crimson  Tuft,  that  dilated  with 
pleasurable  exultation.  She  was  evidently 
satisfied  with  the  truth  and  sincerity  she 
saw  beaming  there,  for  she  proceeded  : — 

"  I  must  go  again  to  Mexico,  but  not 
alone.  The  Donna  Leota  will  accompany 
me,  for  in  the  years  to  come  I  can  not  be 
separated  from  her.  And  you  »must  go,  as 
I  shall  need  you.  I  am  very  rich,  and 
must  trust  you  with  a  great  secret;  but  I 
have  studied  you  well." 

"  Senora,"  said  Crimson  Tuft,  eagerly, 
"  I  will  be  true  to  you ;  you  shall  never 

regret." 

t 
"  Swear  it !"  she  said,  fiercely. 

So  the  young  boy  knelt,  and  pressed  the 
good  book  to  his  lips,  repeating  after  her 
a  most  solemn  oath,  to  serve  her  faithfully, 
and  keep  sacred  the  great  secret,  which  was 
to  be  revealed  to  Leota  only,  in  case  of  the 
grandmother's  death. 


200  FAIRY  TALES. 

"  Now,"  she  said,  "  I  am  weary.  To- 
morrow I  will  tell  you  all."  And  she 
leaned  back  in  the  arm-chair,  and  shaded 
her  eyes  with  her  fkn.  Crimson  Tuft  went 
out,  with  his  heart  beating  wild  in  a  tu- 
inult  of  conflicting  emotions. 

On  the  morrow,  again  she  called  him  to 
the  library,  -and  locked  the  door. 

"  I  have  made  my  will,"  she  said,  "  and 
you  are  handsomely  provided  for,  in  con- 
sideration of  your  proving  faithful  to  the 
trust  I  repose  in  you.  Besides  this,  while  I 
live,  you  shall  never  want  for  gold.  Is  it 
-all  fully  understood  ?' 

Then  Crimson  Tuft  said,  "  It  is  under- 
stood, senora,  fully."  And  she  took  from 
her  desk  a  carefully  sealed  paper,  which 
she  wrapped  in  sheep-skin,  and,  again  seal- 
ing it,  gave  it  to  the  boy.  "  This  paper," 
she  said,  "  describes  the  exact  spot  where  a 
great  treasure  is  hidden  upon  my  hacienda, 


CRIMSON    TUFT.  201 

•«. 

near  the  City  of  Mexico. .  There  is  no 
chance  of  your  gaining  this  for  yourself, 
for  there  are  two  other  persons  living  who 
have  similar  papers;  indeed,  precautions, 
that  I  shall  not  tell  you  of,  have  been 
taken,  so  that  it  must  fall  to  the  Donna 
Leota  at  last,  for  she  is  the  only  true 
heiress.  You  see  I  am  cautious,  very  cau- 
tious," she  added,  the  old  look  of  suspicion 
rising  in  her  face. 

From  this  day  Crimson  Tuft  was  her 
chief  adviser.  He  and  the  dwarf  made 
all  preparations  for  the  journey.  In  about 
a  week  all  was  ready,  and  they  went  to 
San  Francisco  in  a  carnage,  which  drove 
immediately  down  to  the  steamer,  and  they 
were  soon  comfortably  settled  on  board. 

"Now,"  said  Crimson  Tuft,  "there  is 
still  time,  and  I  can  walk  about  the  city 
for  half  an  hour."  But  the  senora  grew 

excited,   and    exclaimed,   "  No !    no !.  you 
9* 


202  FAIRY  TALES. 

* 

might  get  lost;  remember,  you  are  a 
stranger."  And  the  Donna  Leota  said, 
softly,  "  Surely,  you  will  not  go  away !" 

So  the  dwarf  performed  all  the  commis- 
sions, and  for  an  hour  the  senora  was  ab- 
sent; but,  before  leaving,  she  had  said  to 
Crimson  Tuft,  "  I  leave  the  Donna  Leota  in 
your  care." 

At  length  the  ship  sailed.  Then  came 
the  long,  sluggish,  dreamy  days  at  sea. 
Crimson  Tuft  and  Leota  were  often  to- 
gether upon  the  deck,  for  the  old  senora 
would  not  allow  her  there  alone.  What  gold- 
en days  they  were  to  the  poor  Crimson  Tuft. 
More  and  more  he  was  growing  to  love  the 
pretty  young  senorita,  and  she  could  not  re- 
sist the  powerful  spell  of  his  luminous  eyes. 

One  night  she  rushed  wildly  through 
the  saloon  to  his  state-room.  The  grand- 
mother had  been  taken  suddenly  very  ill, 
and  must  see  Crimson  Tuft. 


CRIMSON  TUFT.  203 

She  breathed  with  great  difficulty,  and 
her  words  came  low  and  broken :  "  If  I 
live  to  reach  Mexico,  you  will  not  need 
this  paper ;  but  I  am  old,"  she  added,  bit- 
terly, "  and  the  old  must  die." 

With  great  pain  she  went  on:  "If  I 
should  not  live  to  reach  the  hacienda,  you 
will  see  the  child  has  her  own.  Dig  up 
the  treasure  yourself,  and  do  not  defraud 
her  of  one  single  gold  piece,  or  the  curse  of 
a  dying  woman  will  follow  you,  even  from 
the  darkness  of  the  grave."  Then  again 
Crimson  Tuft  promised,  and,  taking  the 
paper,  left  her  alone  with  "  the  child,"  as 
she  still  fondly  called  the  Donna  Leota. 

This  attack  passed  away,  but  another 
soon  followed,  and  again  Crimson  Tuft  was 
summoned  to  her  side.  Her  glazed  eye 
brightened  as  she  saw  him.  "  Remember," 
was  all  she  could  say,  and  again  he  made 
the  solemn  promise.  It  was  the  third  and 


204  *      FAIRY   TALES. 

last  time.  With  the  old  senora  all  was 
now  over. 

Leota  trembled  with  fear,  and  wept  bit- 
terly. The  grandmother  had  loved  her,  and 
now  there  was  no  one  left,  only  Crimson 
Tuft,  who  sat  by  her  side  all  through  the 
silent  hours. 

The  next  evening,  at  sunset,  the  old 
senora  was  buried  in  the  sea. 

No  one  wept  but  the  beautiful  young 
maiden,  as  the  steamer  went  on,  leaving  in 
its  wake  the  cold,  lifeless  body,  wrapped  in 
its  shroud  of  sparkling  waters. 

At  length  the  good  ship  arrived  safely 
in  Mexico,  and  Crimson  Tuft  took  the  proud 
young  heiress  to  the  hacienda,  where  a 
crowd  of  friends  and  retainers  awaited  her. 

The  will  was  opened,  and  there  was  a 
large  legacy  left  to  Crimson  Tuft.  But  it  was 
as  nothing  to  him.  With  so  much  ugliness, 
what  had  he  to  hope  for ! 


CRIMSON    TUFT.  2Q5 

In  the  last  paper  the  senora  had  handed 
him,  there  was  a  still  fuller  description  of 
the  spot  where  the  treasure  was  hidden, 
and  a  night  appointed  for  him  to  seek  it. 
It  was  the  eighteenth  birthnight  of  the 
Donna  Leota,  Till  then,  she  was  to  be  placed 
in  a  convent,  and  Crimson  Tuft  was  to  have 
the  best  tutors  in  the  City  of  Mexico.  This 
would  make  a  man  of  him. 

So  the  young  people  were  separated  for 
a  time,  but  the  two  years  soon  rolled  by, 
and  Crimson  Tuft  returned  to  the  hacienda 
\vith  his  papers. 

What  a  change  there  was  in  him.  His 
brown,  dark  face  had  grown  every  day  more 
fair,  and  his  stiff  red  hair  more  soft  and 
silky,  and  of  a  rich  brown  color.  It  was 
really  wonderful.  The  young  man  was 
transformed,  day  by  day,  from  the  ugly 
Crimson  Tuft  to  the  handsome  Paul. 

The  Donna  Leota  had  become  the  beau- 


206  FAIRY   TALES. 

tiful  woman  that  her  childhood  promised, 
and  when  she  met  Paul  after  the  two  years 
of  separation,  she  felt  that  the  great  mys- 
tery was  solved,  and  knew  that  she  could 
never  love  any  one  else.  So  they  were  be- 
trothed, and  she  was  to  be  made  his  wife  on 
her  eighteenth  birthday. 

At  the  appointed  time,  Paul  sought  and 
found  the  great  treasure  that  had  been  hid- 
den for  so  long.  There  were  immense  iron 
pots,  full  of  shining  gold  pieces,  that  had 
been  hidden  during  one  of  the  many  Mexican 
revolutions.  Thus  it  was  found  that  the 
Donna  Leota  was  the  richest  maiden  in  all 
Mexico,  and  she  had  many  suitors  among  the 
wealthy  Spanish  hidalgoes;  but  she  cared 
only  for  Paul,  for  the  spell  of  the  wonderful 
eyes,  which  had  been  Crimson  Tuft's,  was 
upon  her. 

At  last,  the  joyous  wedding-day  came, 
and  every  one  said,  "What  a  tall,  handsome 


CRIMSON    TUFT.  207 

senor  is  the  bridegroom,  and  how  very 
lovely  the  bride.  The  sun  shines  upon  them 
and  it  will  be  a  happy  marriage." 

Soon  after,  they  went  to  San  Francisco, 
and  Paul  felt  the  old  dream  returning. 

One  day,  as  he  walked  through  the  mar- 
ket-place, he  cams  to  a  vegetable  stand. 
Behind  it  sat  a  sorrowful  woman,  with  a 
sad,  mild  face,  that  woke  the  sleeping  mem- 
ories of  his  heart.  "  Mother !"  he  exclaimed, 
with  a  thrill  of  tenderness  in  his  voice  that 
raised  the  bowed  head  of  the  lonely  one. 
She  gave  one  look  into  the  eyes  that,  once 
seen,  could  never  be  forgotten,  and  cried, 
"  Paul !  my  son,  my  son  !"  and  opening  her 
arms,  received  upon  her  bosom  the  head  of 
her  long  lost  treasure. 

How  she  wept,  and  smiled,  and  pressed 
him  to  her  heart ;  then  held  him  off,  that  she 
might  gaze  upon  the  dear  handsome  face. 

Then  they  went  home  to  the  father,  who 


208  FAIRY  TALES. 

was  old  and  sick.  He  had  lost  strength 
and  heart  years  ago,  and  they  were  very 
poor.  "  He  has  never  held  up  his  head," 
so  the  mother  said,  "  since  our  boy  was 
taken  from  us." 

But  that  was  all  over ;  the  lost  was 
found;  poverty,  sorrow,  and  sickness  fled 
with  his  presence. 

He  took  the  old  father  and  mother  home 
to  Leota,  who  received  them  into  her  own 
heart ;  for,  were  they  not  his  parents  and 
hers  ? 

At  first  the  old  vegetable  woman  stood 
a  little  in  awe  of  her  high-born  daughter, 
but  that  soon  melted  away  in  the  warmth  of 
the  dainty  little  Senora's  affection ;  and  the 
father,  mother,  son,  and  daughter,  lived  all 
their  lives  together,  a  happy  family,  united 
in  heart  and  mind  by  the  silken  bonds  of 
a  true,  earnest  affection. 


SNOWDROP  AND   ROSEBUD.  2Q9 


SNOWDROP    AND    ROSEBUD. 

A   CALIFORNIA   STORY. 

YEARS  ago,  before  the  gold-seekers  came 
to  California,  there  lived  at  the  Mission  of 
San  Gabriel,  a  Spaniard,  whose  beautiful 
vineyard  was  admired  by  all  the  country. 

In  early  life  he  had  been  a  great  traveler, 
and  while  in  Germany,  he  met  a  fair  golden- 
haired  maiden,  whom  he  loved  and  mar- 
ried. After  a  few  years  he  emigrated  to 
America,  and  settled  at  the  Mission  of  San 
Gabriel — near  the  town  of  Los  Angeles. 

There  he  prospered  greatly,  his  cattle 
increased  to  great  herds,  covering  the  green 
hill-sides,  and  his  vineyard  was  the  pride 
of  his  heart.  He  built  a  pleasant  house, 
and  surrounded  it  with  a  garden  filled 


210  FAIRY  TALES. 

with  all  kinds  of  fruit.  In  that  delicious 
climate,  fruits  of  the  tropic  and  temperate 
zones  grow  together ;  while  the  white 
flowers  of  the  North,  and  their  crimson-hued 
sisters  of  the  South,  blossom  side  by  side. 

There  seemed  nothing  wanting  to  make 
his  happiness  complete  but  children.  The 
house  was  too  silent ;  he  wished  for  the 
silvery  laughter  of  childish  voices  ;  he 
longed  to  press  little  ones  to  his  heart,  and 
call  them  his  own. 

At  last,  God  gave  him  two  little  girls ; 
but  the  fair,  golden-haired  mother  lived 
only  to  "bless  them,  and  was  then  buried  by 
the  clear  "  Lake  of  the  Tules."  At  first  he 
was  inconsolable,  and  for  months  refused 
to  see  his  little  ones ;  but  one  day,  while  he 
slept,  the  old  Indian  nurse  took  them  into 
his  room,  and  laid  them  on  the  bed  by  his 
side. 

Little  Snowdrop  nestled  in  his  bosom, 


SNOWDROP   AND   ROSEBUD.  211 

but  Rosebud  ran  her  fingers  into  his  beard, 
and  pulled  it  so  hard  that  she  woke  him. 
There  she  was,  when  he  opened  his  eyes, 
crowing  with  delight — her  little  rosy  lips 
close  to  his,  and  the  fair  Snowdrop  in  his 
bosom. 

Then  all  the  father's  love,  which  had 
only  slept,  awoke,  and  he  pressed  the  little 
ones  to  his  heart,  weeping ;  but  especially 
he  loved  the  beautiful  Snowdrop,  she  was 
so  like  her  mother. 

After  this,  although  he  still  mourned 
greatly  for  his  wife,  he  loved  these  little 
ones  veiy  dearly ;  and  as  years  passed  by, 
became  happy  in  the  absorbing  devotion 
to  them,  which  filled  his  whole  heart. 

He  watched  over  them  with  the  most 
jealous  care.  Even  in  childhood,  he  would 
not  allow  them  to  play  with  other  chil- 
dren; and  as  they  grew  older,  his  fear 
was  awakened  lest  some  of  the  young 


212  FAIRY   TALES. 

* 

senors  of  Los  Angeles  should  see  and  fall 
in  love  with  them.  For  his  daughters  to 
form  a  mesalliance,  he  was  quite  sure  would 
break  his  heart. 

As  he  was  obliged  often  to  go  from 
home  on  business,  he  employed  an  old 
Indian  woman  as  duenna,  and  charged  her 
never  to  allow  the  girls  out  of  her  sight 
for  a  moment. 

Rosebud  was  a  Spanish  girl,  with  pur- 
ple-tinged hair,  soft  black  eyes,  and  clear 
olive  complexion.  Through  the  satin  skin 
the  warm  blood  flushed  her  cheeks,  and  her 
lips  were  more  tempting  than  ripe  cher- 
ries; but  Snowdrop  was  a  rare  German 
maiden  in  complexion,  clear  and  fair  as 
the  noonday.  Her  eyes  were  like  violets. 
Her  hair  in  the  sunshine  was  like  fine 
spun  gold,  and  so  long  that  it  reached  to 
her  feet,  and  hung  like  a  mantle  of  glory 
about  her. 


SNOWDROP   AND   ROSEBUD.  213 

It  was  no  wonder  the  old  man  guarded 
Ms  daughters  so  carefully;  for  though  so 
different,  they  were  equally  beautiful,  and 
all  the  young  men  of  good  family  were 
anxious  to  pay  court  to  them. 

Day  by  day  they  sat  upon  the  piazza  of 
the  inner  court,  reading  the  fascinating 
romances  of  old  Spain,  which  was  to  them 
the  dreamland  of  delight.  They  longed 
very  much  to  go  out,  and  see  something  of 
life  among  the  rich  Spanish  families  about 
San  Gabriel  and  Los  Angeles,  but  their 
father  would  not  allow  it  ;  and  the  old 
duenna  was  always  near  them  ;  even  when 
they  walked  through  the  vineyard  or  the 
orange  orchard,  she  followed  them. 

One  day,  Rosebud  called  Snowdrop  into 
the  garden,  and  sitting  under  a  large  al- 
mond-tree, she  said  :  "  Look  over  this  book 
of  prints  with  me,  while  we  talk  softly, 
for  the  duenna  must  not  hear  every  thing." 


FAIRY   TALES. 


Snowdrop  rested  her  golden  tresses 
upon  her  sister's  arm,  and,  turning  over  the 
leaves  of  the  book,  they  talked  together. 

"  Sister  dear,"  said  Rosebud,  "  we  lead  a 
very  dull  life  here.  All  young  girls  are 
gay  and  happy.  What  is  the  use  of  being 
beautiful,  with  no  one  to  see  us  but  serv- 
ants and  old  women  ?"  A  look  of  con- 
scious beauty  gathered  around  her  pouting 
lips,  as  she  ran  her  dainty  fingers  through 
the  silken  meshes  of  her  sister's  golden 
hair. 

"  Our  dear  papa  loves  us,"  said  Snow- 
drop, "  but  I  do  wish  to  be  loved  by  other*," 
she  added  —  her  violet  eyes  softening,  and 
a  faint  flush  spreading  over  her  fair  cheeks 
and  neck. 

"  And  I  to  be  admired  !  but  how  can  we 
be  either?"  replied  Rosebud,  "shut  up  here, 
with  the  old  duenna  to  watch  every  thing 
we  do  ?  God  made  us  beautiful,  and  I'm 


SNOWDROP   ASV   ROSEBUD.  215 

sure  he  intended  us  to  be  seen.  And  for 
my  part,  I  am  determined  to  go  to  the 
consul's  grand  ball,  if  I  have  to  run  away !" 
and  her  pretty  dark  eyes  filled  with 
tears. 

"  Oh  !  sister  Rosebud,  think  of  the  dear 
papa  !"  said  Snowdrop. 

"  He  did  not  tell  us  not  to  go  out  of  the 
garden  alone ;  he  only,  told  the  duenna  to 
watch  us.  If  we  could  only  manage  her," 
said  Rosebud,  thoughtfully. 

"I  am  afraid  it  would  not  be  right," 
replied  Snowdrop,  "  but  I  want  to  go  very 
much.  We  will  make  an  altar-cloth,  and 
embroider  it  with  gold,  as  an  offering  to 
the  Blessed  Virgin.  Perhaps  she  will 
pity  our  loneliness,  and  help  us." 

So  they  wrought  an  altar-cloth  of  pur- 
ple and  gold,  and  spread  it  upon  the 
altar,  before  the  picture  of  the  Blessed 
Mother,  in  their  own  chamber;  putting 


21(3  FAIRY   TALES. 

vases  of  "beautiful  flowers  upon  it.  When 
it  was  finished  they  were  quite  happy,  and 
sat  down  with  their  guitars,  and  sang  very 
sweetly  together,  till  their  father  came 
home. 

The  next  moring,  an  old  Mexican  woman, 
with  baskets  of  trinkets  for  sale,  knocked 
at  the  garden  gate. 

When  she  was  admitted,  she  spread  out 
her  finery  before  the  young  senoritas.  The 
duenna  hastened  to  the  piazza  where  they 
were  sitting— for  no  one  was  more  fond  of 
looking  over  the  vendedords  basket  than 
she,  always  finding  something  she  could 
not  do  without  among  its  tempting  stores 
— this  time  it  was  a  gay-colored  shawl,  and 
she  ran  away  for  her  purse. 

As  soon  as  she  was  out  of  sight,  the  old 
woman  whispered: — 

"  Pretty  senoritas,  I  have  charms  to  sell. 
This  will  make  you  admired,  and  this 


SNOWDROP   AND   R03EBUD.  217 

loved,"  slie  said,  holding  up  two  curious 
little  bags — one  tied  with  long  pink  rib- 
bon, the  other  with  blue — "and  this," 
pointing  to  a  third,  "  will  make  you  sleep. 
It  contains  a  powder.  You  must  drop  one 
grain  into  a  glass  of  water.  It  is  perfectly 
tasteless,  but  it  brings  on  a  sleep  so  pro- 
found, that  until  the  effect  passes  away, 
nothing  could  awaken  you  from  pleasant 
dreams." 

The  young  girls  bought  the  charms. 
Snowdrop  took  the  one  tied  with  blue  rib- 
bon, and  placing  it  in  her  bosom,  whis- 
pered, "  Now  I  may  be  loved." 

"  And  I  will  be  admired,"  said  Kosebud, 
taking  the  other ;  but  the  charm  for  sleep 
she  concealed  in  her  pocket,  just  as  the 
old  duenna  returned,  eager  for  her  par- 
chases. 

"  I  have  pretty  slippers  for  little  dancing 

feet,"  said  the  old  woman,  holding  up  two 
10 


218  FAIRY  TALES. 

pairs  of  the  daintiest  white  satin  slippers 
you  could  imagine. 

"  The  senoritas  have  no  use  for  them," 
exclaimed  the  duenna,  frowning ;  but  the 
young  girls  found  that  they  fitted  so  nicely, 
and  looked  so  pretty,  they  bought  them. 

"  Papa  is  rich  enough  to  give  us  any 
thing  we  want,  and  we  fancy  these,"  said 
Rosebud.  They  bought  strings  of  beads, 
ribbons,  and  combs  for  their  hair,  until  the 
old  duenna  was  nearly  frantic.  What 
they  could  want  of  all  these,  shut  up  as 
they  were,  she  could  not  tell. 

Then  Rosebud  said : — "  "We  will  have 
some  new  dresses;"  so  they  bought  fine 
white  muslin  and  lace.  Snowdrop  bought 
a  bright-colored  handkerchief,  which  she 
gave  the  duenna,  who  was  so  much  pleased 
that  she  promised  to  help  them  make  their 
dresses. 

As  soon  as  the  old  woman  went  away, 


SNOWDROP  AND  ROSEBUD.  219 

they  all  sat  upon  the  piazza,  shaded  with 
vines,  and  commenced  cutting  and  stitch- 
ing upon  the  delicate  fabric  so  busily,  that 
by  evening  the  skirts  of  their  dresses  were 
quite  finished. 

The  next  morning  they  were  early  at 
work  again. 

"  Why  do  you  hurry  so  much,"  said  the 
duenna,  who  never  lifeed  to  work  very 
long  at  a  time. 

"To  have  it  over  the  sooner,  dear  du- 
enna," answered  Snowdrop,  smiling  so 
sweetly  that  the  duenna  tpok  her  needle 
again  quite  pleasantly. 

Snowdrop's  dress  was  trimmed  with  blue 
ribbon,  Rosebud's  with  crimson  and  gold. 
The  young  girls  wrought  upon  them  all 
their  pretty  fancies,  till,  when  they  were 
finished,  the  duenna  thought  them  beauti- 
ful enough  for  a  queen. 

At  evening  the  work  was  all  done ;  and 


220  FAIRY  TALES. 

the  duenna,  quite  fatigued  with  her  unac- 
customed task,  sat  dozing  in  her  arm- 
chair. 

Suddenly  she  roused  herself,  exclaim- 
ing : — "  How  warm  it  is  !  I  am  very 
thirsty." 

"  Rosebud  jumped  up  quickly,  saying, 
"  I  will  bring  you  fresh  water ;"  so  she  ran 
down  to  the  spring  at  the  foot  of  the 
garden,  and  there  she  met  the  faithful  old 
Miguel — who  had  been  in  the  family  for 
years  before  she  was  born,  and  loved  the 
young  senoritas  as  though  they  were  his 
own  children. 

Rosebud  caught  him  by  the  arm,  and 
whispered  : — "  Have  the  horses  at  the  back 
garden-gate  to-night  at  nine  o'clock,  you 
dear  old  Miguel,  for  you  shall  take  us  to 
the  consul's  ball." 

"But  the  senor?"  said  the  old  servant, 
in  astonishment. 


SNOWDROP   AND   ROSEBUD.  221 

"  Never  mind  the  senor,  you  dear,  care- 
ful man." 

"  But  the  duenna  V  he  continued. 

"  Never  mind  !  never  mind  !  I  tell  you 
I  will  go !  so  be  sure  you  are  ready  in 
time,"  said  Rosebud,  laughing,  and  shaking 
her  finger  as  she  ran  away. 

Poor  old  Miguel  was  in  a  great  dilemma. 
He  loved  the  pretty  sejioritas,  and  wanted 
to  help  them ;  but  he  feared  the  senor. 

"  It  may  cost  me  my  place  ;  and  in  this 
family  I  have  lived,  and  here  I  would  die ; 
but  my  pretty  children  are  so  lonely,  it  is 
too  bad  to  shut  them  up — and  old  Miguel 
will  not  fail  them." 

Thus  his  fond  love  for  the  fair  girls  he 
had  carried  in  his  arms  in  their  helpless 
infancy,  conquered  his  discretion ;  and  he 
went  to  the  stable  to  groom  the  horses. 

Rosebud  brought  the  water — clear,  cool, 
and  sparkling — to  the  old  duenna,  and  she 


222  FAIRY  TALES. 

drank  it  eagerly  in  her  thirst,  little  dream- 
ing of  the  sleep-charm  the  gay  young  senor- 
ita  had  dropped  into  the  cup. 

Almost  instantly  she  became  very  drow- 
sy, and,  closing  her  eyes,  she  fell  asleep  in 
her  chair.  In  a  short  time  her  heavy 
breathing  told  how  surely  the  charm  had 
taken  effect. 

"  Now  for  the  ball !"  said  Eosebud.  So 
the  young  girls  dressed  themselves  quickly, 
but  with  great  care — looping  their  sleeves 
with  rare  flowers  from  the  garden,  and 
tying  their  ribbons  very  tastefully. 

u  I  think  we  shall  do,"  said  Rosebud, 
looking  at  the  beautiful  girl  reflected  from 
her  mirror,  then  at  the  softer  beauty  of  her 
sister. 

Snowdrop  answered  by  a  kiss,  and  they 
went  out  softly,  and  down  the  garden  path 
to  the  gate,  where  the  faithful  Miguel  wait- 
ed for  them. 


SNOWDROP  AND   ROSEBUD.  223 

An  hour's  ride  brought  them  to  the 
brilliantly  lighted  mansion  of  the  consul, 
and  all  the  young  senors  were  delighted 
at  the  arrival  of  the  fair  sisters. 

No  one  was  so  much  courted  and  ad- 
mired, among  all  the  fair  senoritas  at  the 
ball  that  night,  as  Snowdrop  and  Rosebud ; 
and  none  of  the  gay  hidalgoes  were  more 
happy  than  old  Miguel^  who  was  peeping 
from  behind  the  hall  door,  enjoying  the 
triumph  of  his  darlings.  At  last  he  be- 
came uneasy,  and,  approaching  them  with 
a  respectful  bow,  told  them  it  was  time  to 
go  home. 

Taking  special  leave  of  their  host  and 
hostess,  bowing  gracefully  to  the  guests, 
they  started  for  home — leaving  all,  admir- 
ers, and  many,  lovers  behind  them. 

When  they  entered  their  chamber,  they 
found  the  duenna  still  sleeping  soundly. 
They  undressed  themselves  noiselessly,  put- 


224:  FAIRY   TALES. 

ting  away  all  their  clothes  but  their  slip- 
pers, which  they  forgot. 

In  the  morning,  when  the  sun  arose,  the 
duenna  awoke,  and  was  much  surprised  to 
find  herself  sitting  in  a  chair,  instead  of 
being  in  bed. 

She  had  but  a  confused  recollection  of 
things,  and  began  to  think  she  must  have 
taken  a  little  more  wine  than  she  intended 
at  dinner  the  day  before.  She  thought  she 
remembered  Rosebud  giving  her  a  glass 
of  water  when  she  was  very  thirsty,  but 
she  was  not  sure  that  it  might  not  have 
been  wine. 

She  looked  around,  but  could  discover 
nothing  to  help  her.  The  two  girls  were 
sleeping  soundly,  and  upon  the  face  of 
Rosebud  there  was  a  smile.  She  was 
dreaming  of  the  ball — again  surrounded 
by  a  crowd  of  admirers. 

Snowdrop  dreamed  of  the   dear  papa; 


'SNOWDROP   AND  ROSEBUD.  225 

he  was  angry  with  them  for  their  disobe- 
dience, and  her  long  eyelashes  were  wet 
with  tears. 

"  How  different  they  are  in  their  ways, 
even  in  sleep !"  said  the  duenna. 

She  turned  away,  and  as  her  eye  fell 
upon  the  forgotten  slippers,  her  search- 
ing glance  detected  that  they  had  been 
worn. 

"  What  does  this  mean  ?  So  much  worn, 
aud  bought  yesterday !  7T  is  very  strange !" 
mused  she,  and  put  them  in  her  pocket. 

She  woke  the  young  girls,  but  they  fell 
asleep  again.  They  were  so  unused  to 
dancing  late  at  night,  that  they  were  very 
tired;  and  when  the  bell  rang  for  break- 
fast, they  did  not  appear. 

"  Where  are  my  dear  daughters  ?"  said 
the  father,  with  a  clouded  face. 

She  could  only  tell  him  that  they  were 

still  asleep,  and  seemed  very  tired. 
10* 


226  FAIRY   TALES. 

"  So  are  my  horses,"  replied  he,  angrily ; 
"  but  I  will  see  about  this." 

The  duenna  was  afraid  to  show  him  the 
shoes,  lest  he  should  blame  her;  but  in 
her  confusion,  as  she  drew  her  handker- 
chief from  her  pocket,  one  of  them  dropped 
out  upon  the  floor. 

"  What  is  this  ?"  said  the  senor,  sternly ; 
and  she  was  obliged  to  tell  him  all  she 
knew. 

For  some  time  the  troubled  father  walk- 
ed the  floor  with  great  agitation  without 
speaking,  while  the  duenna  stood  trembling 
before  him.  Then,  turning  to  her  quickly, 
he  said: — 

"  Call  my  daughters ;"  and  he  rang  the 
bell  for  Miguel. 

All  three  came  into  the  room  with  fear- 
ful hearts;  but  Snowdrop's  face  was  cov- 
ered with  her  golden  hair,  and  the  tears 
were  shining  through  it. 


* 
SNOWDKOP  AND   ROSEBUD.  227 

Turning  to  Miguel,  he  said,  sternly, 
with  a  black  frown  covering  his  whole 
face : — 

"  Stand  here,  and  tell  me  how  it  is,  that 
this  morning  I  find  my  horses  reeking  with 
foam  r 

The  old  man  only  answered,  "  I  alone  am 
to  blame,  senor.  Pardon  your  old  servant, 
who  loves  you  and  yours !"  and  he  clasped 
his  hands,  and  looked  imploringly  at  the 
dark,  angry  face  that  frowned  upon  him. 

Then  Snowdrop  could  bear  it  no  longer, 
so  she  ran  to  the  father — throwing  her 
white  arms  around  his  neck,  and  resting 
her  golden-crowned  head  upon  his  bosom, 
she  said: — 

"  Dear  papa,  I  will  tell  you  all !  Only 
do  not  blame  dear,  good  old  Miguel." 

Then  she  told  him  of  all  their  loneliness, 
and  eager  longings  for  companions  of  their 
own  age ;  about  the  altar-cloth  and  all, 


228  FAIRY  TALES. 

without  reserving  one  thing.  "And  now 
we  are  sorry;  it  was  wrong;  but  the  dear 
papa  will  forgive !"  and  she  raised  her 
pretty  face,  all  shining  with  tears,  and 
begged  him  to  kiss  her. 

How  like  her  mother  she  was !  and  the 
father  thought  of  the  sunny  days  of  his 
youth,  when  he  had  wandered  on  the 
banks  of  the  Rhine  with  the  fair  German 
maiden,  and  wondered  how  he  could  forget 
that  the  young  and  ardent  hearts  of  his 
children  must  be  like  the  heart  of  his 
youth. 

He  kissed  the  innocent  face  upturned  to 
his,  and  forgave  them,  saying,  "  I,  too,  have 
been  to  blame ;  and,  in  future,  I  will  go 
with  you  to  all  places,  my  darlings,  where 
it  is  proper  and  right  for  you  to  go." 

Snowdrop  and  Rosebud  were  delighted, 
and  willingly  promised  never  again  to  de- 
ceive "  the  dear  papa ;"  and  from  that  day 


SNOWDROP  AND  ROSEBUD.  229 

there  was  mutual  confidence  and  love  be- 
tween the  young  girls  and  the  father. 

After  a  time,  when  two  brave  and  gal- 
lant knights  sought  of  the  father  the  hands 
of  the  fair  senoritas  in  marriage,  he  an- 
swered, "Let  the  hearts  of  my  dear  chil- 
dren decide  for  you.  My  only  wish  is  to 
see  them  happy." 

There  was  a  great. feast  made  at  their 
marriage;  and  the  old  Spanish  house,  so 
long  wrapped  in  seclusion,  resounded  with 
joyous  music  and  the  meny  laughter  of 
light  hearts.  Again  old  Miguel  stood  be- 
hind the  door,  and  rejoiced  to  see  his  dar- 
lings loved,  admired,  and  happy. 


LAZARUS    AND    BUMMER. 

IT  was  a  dark  rainy  day  in  the  land 
where  the  rain  makes  the  winter,  and  the 
sunshine  and  blue  sky  the  pleasant  summer- 
time. 

Through  the  Golden  Gate,  came  the  ship 
to  the  new  city  of  hope,  and  all  the  people 
on  board  thought,  "  how  happy  and  rich  we 
shall  become  in  the  Gold  Land,  Though  the 
city  is  now  only  a  miserable  place  of  tents 
and  sand  hills,  one  day  how  great  it  will 
be,  and  we  shall  live  to  see  it,  The  fair 
Golden  City." 

On  the  rude  wharf  stood  the  expectant 
crowd.  To  them  the  ship  was  the  beau- 
tiful carrier-dove,  with  its  white  wings 
spread  to  bring  them  news  of  home. 


LAZAHUS  AND  BUMMER.  231 

"  Perhaps  there  will  be  some  one  from 
the  old  home,"  said  a  young  man,  with  his 
brown  eyes  filled  with  eager  longing.  "  The 
dark  old  Atlantic !  how  its  breakers  used 
to  dash  upon  the  rocks  in  sight  of  home. 
It  was  glorious.  To-morrow  will  be  Christ- 
mas T  I  wonder,  will  they  remember  all,  as 
I  do  I" 

By  his  side  stood  a  great  shaggy  dog,  who 
belonged  to  nobody. 

He  talked  only  in  the  dog  language,  but 
was  very  learned,  and  understood  all  the 
young  man  said.  He  was  a  wonderful  dog, 
and  had  his  thoughts.  "I  am  my  own 
master,"  he  said,  "  and  that  is  pleasant — yet 
one  likes  to  be  cared  for,  and  nobody  cares 
for  me.  I  shall  get  no  news  from  home, 
and  to-mpiTow  will  be  Christmas.  This  is 
not  as  it  should  be ;  I  must  see  to  it." 

The  great  dog  was  getting  quite  out  of 
temper,  and,  with  a  surly  growl,  he  ttirnel 


232  FAIRY   TALES. 

round  so  quickly,  that  he  gave  the  young 
man  a  start. 

"One  would  think  the  dog  was  mad,' 
said  he,  "  only  it  is  not  the  season."  Then 
he  looked  out  again  hopefully  to  the  com- 
ing ship. 

The  great  dog  ran  round  the  corner,  and 
through  the  wet  streets  all  day. 

The  steamer  had  arrived,  and  there  were 
new  faces  looking  eagerly  about  for  old  famil- 
iar ones,  and  the  old  were  looking  for  the 
new ;  so  there  was  altogether  a  great  bustle 
such  as  was  never  seen,  only,  in  those  early 
days  when  the  ships  came  in  from  home. 
Thus  the  day  passed,  and  the  evening  came 
on,  raining  dismally — yet  it  was  Christmas 
eve. 

In  a  dark  alley  sat  the  great  dog.  His 
shaggy  coat  kept  him  warm,  yet  it  was  very 
desolate  there  alone. 

"  One  should  have  something  to  live  for," 


LAZARUS   AND  BUMMER.  233 

growled  he,  "  something  to  take  care  of  and 
protect,  or  there  is  no  use  in  being  strong 
and  brave.  One  might  as  well  be  a  puny 
poodle,  and  sit  by  the  parlor  fire,"  and  he 
gave  an  ugly  bark,  "  bow,  wow,  wow !  one 

should  have  an  object  in  life." 

•» 

Just  then  he  heard  a  low  moan,  and  look- 
ing round,  he  saw  a  poor  lame  dog,  very 
thin  and  sick,  lying  down  in  the  mud,  and 
ready  to  die  of  hunger. 

It  was  really  quite  wretched,  and  all  the 
great  dog's  sympathies  were  aroused. 
h  There  is  an  object,  to  be  sure,"  he  said.  "  It 
is  Christmas  eve,  and  the  good  Santa  Glaus 
has  taken  pity  on  me,  and  given  me  this 
poor  fellow,  who  needs  me  as  much  as  I  do 
him.  What  a  zest  life  has,  when  one  has 
something  to  live  for." 

Without  any  useless  ceremony,  he  raised 
the  poor  dog,  and  tenderly  as  the  mother 
dog  carries  her  little  ones,  he  bore  him  to 


234:  FAIRY  TALES. 

a  warm,  dry  place,  and  made  him  a  nice  bed 
of  clean  straw. 

a  This  is  better,  my  friend,"  said  the  no- 
ble creature,  quite  flushed  and  happy 
with  the  pleasure  of  doing  a  kind  act. 
"  What  more  can  I  do  for  you  ?" 

"lam  famishing  with  hunger,"  replied 
the  lame  dog,  with  a  feeble  groan,  and  off 
went  his  great  shaggy  protector,  through 
rain  and  mud,  to  a  restaurant,  and  there 
the  cook  gave  him  a  bone,  saying,  "  take  it, 
you  Bummer." 

He  caught  the  bone,  and  running  off  as 
fast  as  possible,  in  a  few  moments  laid  it 
before  the  lame  dog. 

It  was  a  rich  bone,  and  had  a  delicious 
smell  that  was  quite  reviving  to  the  sick 
one. 

It  was  so  pleasant  to  see  the  poor  hungry 
fellow  eat,  that  Bummer  could  not  leave 
him  until  he  had  finished.  "  I  never  enjoyed 


LAZARUS  AND  BUMMER.  235 

a  bone  so  much  in  my  life,"  said  Bummer, 
as  he  tucked  the  warm  straw  around  his 
new  friend,  and  saw  him  closing  his  eyes 
with  a  pleasant  satisfied  languor. 

"  This  is  something  like  living,"  added  he, 
with  a  lively  bark,  as  he  ran  back  to  the 
restaurant  for  his  own  dinner. 

u  Coming  again,  Bummer  V  said  the 
jolly,  red-faced  cook,  throwing  him  another 
bone,  which  he  ate  with  a  famous  relish. 

In  the   morning  he  went  back  a«;ain  to 

o  o 

the  restaurant,  serving  the  sick  dog  first, 
and  again  at  night,  and  day  after  day,  till 
he  became  the  jolly  cook's  regular  pensioner. 

At  the  restaurant  they  grew  quite  curi- 
ous to  know  what  became  of  the  first  bone, 
and  sent  some  one  to  follow  Bummer,  who 
came  back  telling  the  strange  story,  and  say- 
ing, u  it  is  really  quite  wonderful." 

Then  every  one  talked  of  it,  and  soon 
the  whole  town  came  to  know  the  two 


236  FAIRY  TALES.. 

dogs,  and  called  them  Bummer  and  Laza- 


o, 

rus. 


In  the  pleasant  days  they  walked  out 
together,  Bummer  always  watching  over 
Lazarus  with  the  tenderest  care.  It  was 
really  a  pleasant  sight  to  see  them,  they 
were  so  happy  together. 

Thus  time  passed  away,  making  no 
change  in  the  protecting  devotion  of  Bum- 
mer, nor  the  trusting  love  of  Lazarus. 

But  there  must  be  an  end  of  all  things, 
and  at  last  Lazarus  died. 

This  was  a  great  sorrow  to  poor  Bummer, 
and  he  grew  so  thin  and  wretched  that  the 
jolly  cook  was  quite  distressed. 

"  You  must  cheer  up,  my  good  Bummer ; 
really  it  will  never  do ;  you  must  cheer  up." 

"It  is  all  over  now,"  said  the  dog,  "  one 
must  frave  something  to  live  for.  It  is  no 
use,  one  must  have  an  object." 

He  was  no  longer  the  Bummer  of  old?  and 


LAZARUS   AND   BUMMER.  937 

he  went  away  to  the  place  where  Lazarus 
rested. 

"  He  forgot  to  eat  his  bone,"  said  the  jolly 
cook ;  "  poor  fellow,  we  were  getting  used 
him,  to  and  we  shall  miss  him.  He  be- 
longed to  the  town — he  was  '  our  dog.' " 

This  was  the  last  time  he  went  for  his 
bone.  It  was  all  over,  and  Bummer  and 

Lazarus  became  a  remembrance  which  has 

• 

passed  into  a  tradition. 

The  skin  of  Bummer  was  carefully  stuffed, 
and  placed  in  a  glass  case.  It  may  still  be 
seen  in  some  restaurant  on  Montgomery 
Street,  where  it  is  preserved  as  a  precious 
relic  of  the  olden  time. 

.This  is  a  true  story,  little  ones,  and  no 
doubt  the  fathers  will  tell  you,  how,  in  the 
olden  days,  he  has  often  seen  Bummer  and 
Lazarus.  _ 


IS/6  64  f 
S&.2. 

18-70 


•» 


w.mm 


iMl .  ^rt?:  «-^/7XHc>. -**kJi*/S?^.i ?  j 


